Chapter 945 A loyal minister is a loyal minister
it's over.
When Zhangsun Wuji's party lost power in the court, Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao were left with only fear in their hearts.
All we can do is wait quietly for the unknown and horrible ending.
Wu Zhao was not a kind-hearted person. What she liked most was to kill everyone and eradicate the roots of the evil.
In the Jiaolan Palace.
The radiance on Wu Zhao's face surpassed that of any other day. The Weaver Girl in the palace was busy embroidering a moon-colored robe for her as the queen. Before the enthronement ceremony, the new robe for the queen would be unveiled.
"Weiwei, I have finally come this far. After more than ten years, I finally see the light. I have lived up to the expectations of the Imperial Master."
Wu Zhao was wearing a bright red ladies' dress, which made her skin look even whiter and more plump. In terms of appearance alone, she was not as good as Luo Junwei, but the captivating feminine charm that emanated from her from the inside out made people unable to take their eyes off her.
Luo Junwei stepped forward to help her adjust her clothes, lifted the inner skirt up to cover her snow-white skin, and then said softly: "My Tang Dynasty ladies' clothes are too revealing and not beautiful. Luo's family has recently improved some clothes, which are very elegant and beautiful. The queen can try them in the future."
Wu Zhao smiled and nodded. Luo Junwei continued, "Queen, you are about to take the throne. I have something to say to you. Don't get involved with the Changsun Wuji faction in the outer court. If possible, try to persuade His Majesty.
They are all loyal ministers of Emperor Taizong. No matter what their final fate is, the word "loyalty" will be recorded in the history books. If you participate in kicking them when they are down, your name will be recorded in the history books. You will be used as a knife by His Majesty, but you have to consider the situation. You can't rush forward with such things."
Wu Zhao's face became solemn. She and Li Zhi were political allies. Not letting Zhang Sun Wuji go was both Li Zhi's and hers. They both wanted Zhang Sun Wuji to die. Now that Luo Junwei said this, she heard another meaning.
Luo Junwei was hinting to her that the political alliance between her and Li Zhi had ended after defeating Queen Wang and Zhangsun's faction. She should now be careful with Li Zhi. After all, Wu Zetian was now the queen and the target of the conspirators.
Wu Zhao took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Weiwei, I understand."
Seeing that Wu Zhao had listened carefully, Luo Junwei said seriously, "Besides Changsun Wuji, there are Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shufei. I know you want to grind them to ashes, but there is no need. It will only ruin your reputation. There is nothing worth doing.
I suggest that you ask His Majesty to appoint Crown Prince Li Zhong to Lingnan, or to Song, one of the six kingdoms, where no one has been sent yet, and then exile Queen Wang there as well.
The same thing happened to Concubine Xiao Shufei. Her son was conferred a title and then she was exiled.
I don't think they will give up. When they rebel, it will not be your business anymore. Naturally, other officials who have nothing to do with it will come forward to destroy them.
This matter has nothing to do with you. If they don't rebel, then it doesn't matter. They are thousands of miles away and have no resources. They live like savages. Just let them fend for themselves."
Wu Zhao heard a strong sense of protection from Luo Junwei's words. The Luo family had been recording history for more than 1,600 years, and they knew very well how the history books would be written. Luo Junwei had already begun to consider her future reputation in history books.
Luo Junwei didn't want her to be branded as someone who framed loyal and good people and was cruel and bloodthirsty, especially to be blamed for Li Zhi, which was unnecessary.
Wu Zhao reached out and hugged Luo Junwei's soft and boneless body, rubbed her pretty face, and said with a smile: "Even if you let Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao live, they can be easily killed if they dare to make trouble in the future."
…
In the first month of the sixth year of the Yonghui reign, an imperial edict was issued from the Taiji Hall, the center of the empire.
"Queen Wang and Consort Xiao were perverse and vicious, causing unrest in the six palaces and disorder of yin and yang. They were demoted to commoners, and Queen Wang was exiled to Song and Consort Xiao was exiled to Chu.
Crown Prince Li Zhong will be renamed the King of Song, and all the land south of Lingnan will be his territory. Prince Yong Li Lian will be renamed the King of Chu, and all the land of Tianzhu will be his territory. Set off immediately without delay. "
A son is honored by his mother, and a son dies because of his mother.
This was not Li Zhi's original intention, but he had to do so. When he decided to depose Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao, the ministers who had fought for him against Zhangsun Wuji turned their guns on him and either explicitly or implicitly stated that the Crown Prince and Prince Yong could no longer stay in Chang'an or even in the Central Plains.
Li Zhi was in great pain. It was Luo Junzhuo who finally made him make up his mind. After hesitating for a while, he could only ask Luo Junzhuo, "Ziyang, I know that I can't keep my position as the crown prince, but as the emperor, can't I really let my son stay in the Central Plains?"
Luo Junzhuo didn't say much nonsense, but just said quietly: "Your Majesty, when the late emperor wanted to make you the crown prince, do you still remember what the late emperor did?"
Li Zhi was speechless for a moment. Of the three legitimate sons plus Li Ke, only he was still in the Central Plains. Especially his elder brother Cheng Qian, who had gone thousands of miles away. Now no one knew where he was. The last time he communicated with the court was in the third year of Yonghui.
He knew that if he wanted to save his son's life, the best option would be to enfeoff him somewhere else. If he stayed in the Central Plains, he might be retaliated against at any time, so he issued the above-mentioned decree.
This time's enfeoffment was extremely hasty. Compared with the enfeoffments of Li Chengqian and Li Tai, what they got was probably not even one-tenth of what they received.
He was said to be the King of Song and the King of Chu, and was said to be one of the six great kings, but in fact, after the two arrived at their fiefdoms, the most important thing should be to survive, or to put it bluntly, to survive on the road first.
No one cared about the prince who set off in a hurry. Now appearing in front of everyone was the new Queen of the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zhao!
When Wu Zhao was made queen, the person who was most excited and excited was not Wu Zhao, but Li Zhi.
Through the act of establishing the queen, Li Zhi fully felt the power he possessed as the emperor, and he successfully took power back from Zhangsun Wuji.
Wu Zhao is his best work. As long as he wanted, he could make a former palace maid grow step by step to her current level.
Zhangsun Wuji and his party watched this scene with their own eyes and repeatedly requested to retire, but Li Zhi did not agree. Wu Zhao no longer commented on it. Li Zhi thought that Wu Zhao was too excited to become the queen, so he did not care too much. He still watched Zhangsun Wuji's anxiety and worry with great interest, and he enjoyed it.
Luo Xuanling pretended not to see the emperor's behavior. Changsun Wuji had made the emperor suffer so much in the past, and he must make him pay back. There was no reason in this world for a minister to bully the emperor but not allow the emperor to bully him back.
The ceremony of enthroning Wu Zhao was very grand. Not only court officials and ladies from both inside and outside the court attended, but also countless foreign envoys, except for those who were inconvenient to come. For example, officials from Liaodong and Qi were preparing for the third war with Fuso, and the palace of King Li Tai of Qi had also been moved from the peninsula to Fuso Island.
Of course it is no longer called Fuso now.
Li Tai was a man with artistic talent. He changed the names of all the islands. The largest piece of land was called Penglai (Honshu), the one in the north was called Yingzhou (Hokkaido), and the one in the south was called Fangzhang (Kyushu), which were the islands to land on after crossing the sea. The remaining smallest piece was called Qi Wangling (Shikoku), which was the amusement area he marked for his future self.
That’s right, although it has only been a few years since Li Tai landed on Fangzhang Island, he has already regarded the entire place as his own land.
Li Ke sent an envoy to congratulate Wu Zhao. As for what he was really thinking, no one knew. This prince had been rectifying the tribes and clearing out the rebellious tribes in Mobei over the years, which made many people quite uneasy.
The more glorious Wu Zhao was, the more terrified Zhang Sun Wuji was.
Especially after Chu Suiliang died of depression in Lingnan, the fear in his heart was completely indescribable. He felt like he was sliding into a dark abyss.
Past achievements cannot serve as a talisman at all. His nephew and his father are completely two different types of people.
Li Shimin was brave and resolute, but full of humanity. Li Zhi was a little weak, but ruthless at heart. He was Li Zhi's uncle, but he only saw it clearly now. In this respect, he was not as good as the junior Luo Junzhuo.
Luo Junzhuo already knew Li Zhi's character when Li Zhi was just a prince, so he has been very cautious over the years and rarely speaks in front of Li Zhi. He just works hard and doesn't even make suggestions. This is why Wu Zetian asked Luo Junwei for advice, but Luo Junzhuo spoke in a tactful way.
After the grand ceremony of enthroning the empress, all the civil and military officials in the court turned their attention to Changsun Wuji. Now it was time to see how the emperor would deal with Changsun Wuji.
The emperor was more impatient than anyone had imagined. After a group of ministers who had opposed Changsun Wuji were successfully appointed as prime ministers, action against Changsun Wuji began soon.
When targeting a meritorious official like Changsun Wuji, ordinary matters are useless, only major cases such as treason.
In ancient times, in a society with an extremely imperfect legal system, the crime of treason, even without any evidence, could cause most officials to be punished or even killed.
One skill that a cruel official needs to master is to be able to fabricate charges. After all, all that is needed to convict a person is a confession and physical evidence. If the emperor really wants to prosecute someone, he may only need a confession. And with the great memory recovery technique, he can get as many confessions as he wants.
In theory, whoever makes the claim should provide the evidence, but in reality, it is a matter of personal conviction. As long as an official starts to make accusations, the person is basically halfway to death.
In every major case in history, more than 70 percent of the people were innocently implicated. Every major case became a means of attacking political opponents, and batches of officials were killed in major cases.
The Zhenguan period is remembered because Li Shimin seldom dealt with major cases. He knew that once he dealt with a major case, he would not be able to stop. He would not stop until he had killed enough people. Moreover, dealing with major cases would deeply damage the political atmosphere and tear apart the political bottom line.
Major cases are usually the final outcome of party struggles, but major cases are not the end of party struggles, but rather more intense party struggles. As long as someone starts a move that puts the other party to death, don't expect those who come after him to put the country above themselves.
The Luo family's rule always leads to better results because they are not afraid of party struggles. They know that even if the worst happens to them, they will lose power and not die, but others cannot do that.
…
In the Tai Chi Hall.
It was very quiet. Li Zhi listened to Xu Jingzong's report with a shocked face. "Your Majesty, it seems that Duke Zhao is definitely plotting a rebellion. I ask Your Majesty to order the arrest of Duke Zhao and punish him according to the law."
Li Zhi sighed and was shocked. "Duke Zhao is a relative of the imperial family. How could he rebel? My dear, if I arrest him so hastily, how will the people of the world view me? My dear, you should investigate it carefully and don't put me in an unjust position."
Xu Jingzong understood as soon as he heard it. The emperor was not asking him to stop investigating, but asking him to produce some "real evidence" to avoid giving himself an excuse to accuse others and silence the people of the world.
After Xu Jingzong left, Li Zhi said to the ministers in the palace: "How could the Duke of Zhao rebel? I am really shocked."
Luo Junzhuo didn't say anything, but after leaving the palace, he hurried into the Yongguo Mansion and told Luo Xuanling what happened today. After listening, Luo Xuanling was silent for a moment, "I don't know where Changsun Wuji will be exiled, and I don't know what will happen to Changsun and his party."
“You’ll die!”
Luo Junzhuo looked at his uncle seriously, and then said again in a decisive tone: "Changsun Wuji will die. The prime ministers who were in the same party with him will all die. The Changsun brothers, nephews, and nieces who were his followers will all die. Even the rest of Changsun Wuji's party will die. The rest of his family will be exiled. Chu Suiliang died early, but he will still be dismissed from his previous position."
He was in his twenties, but when he spoke at this moment, he sounded like a ghost from hell, cold and gloomy, which made Luo Xuanling feel a little chilly. "Jun Zhuo, you came to me, what do you want me to do?"
Luo Junzhuo bowed his head and said, "Uncle, Changsun Wuji cannot die. Killing the ministers and treating Changsun's family cruelly is not good for the country or for Your Majesty. He is now blinded by anger, but I cannot watch him walk into the pit. Now only you, uncle, can stop Your Majesty."
Luo Xuanling looked at Luo Junzhuo for a long time before he slowly said, "Your generation of Luo family members are unlucky. I served the late emperor, but you can only serve the current emperor. I agree to your request."
Luo Junzhuo breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty is already a very good monarch. A saintly king like my uncle is rare in ancient times. How can we keep praying for him? As a minister, I want to make your Majesty make fewer mistakes. This is my duty."
After Luo Junzhuo left the mansion, Luo Xuanling looked at the raindrops falling gradually and frowned slightly. When would this trend of framing political cases stop? He thought for a moment and shook his head helplessly. This was simply not something that could be stopped by one person, especially during the period of imperial power's dominance.
What was Changsun Wuji thinking when he was demoted and left Chang'an?
From being in power to leaving in disgrace, all in just a few years. This was the era of imperial power, and the cruel politics made even the Luo family feel deeply sad.
As soon as Changsun Wuji left Chang'an, the rest of his accomplices would be even easier to deal with. Some were even beaten to death in exile. This shows the cruelty of political revenge.
Li Zhi had no intention of leaving Changsun Wuji any chance of survival. During the meeting in the Council of State, he wanted to continue the investigation. It had already come to this point, and if he continued the investigation, then Changsun Wuji would only end up dead.
Luo Xuanling, who had been silent from the beginning, finally spoke up. His voice was loud and clear, "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"
Li Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Luo Xuanling curiously. He didn't know what he was going to say. This matter had nothing to do with Luo Xuanling.
Li Zhi didn't expect Luo Xuanling to speak. He shifted his body uneasily, which meant that he didn't want to listen to Luo Xuanling because he could guess what Luo Xuanling was going to say. But he couldn't help but listen, so he forced a smile and said, "Duke Yong, please speak."
Luo Xuanling walked into the hall under everyone's gaze, knelt down in the middle of the hall, and then said leisurely: "Your Majesty, I think there is something fishy about Zhangsun Wuji's rebellion case. It may be a frame-up. He was the minister appointed by the late emperor, how could he have rebelled?
Moreover, the late emperor selected the regents and let me and the Duke of England serve as Your Majesty's wings. He then let Zhangsun Wuji take charge of the government affairs hall. He has no soldiers under his command and has no ability to rebel at all.
During the years that Zhangsun Wuji was in power, he made many mistakes and also formed factions to attack dissidents and frame up loyal and honest people. He ended up being demoted. It can be said that Your Majesty has a sharp eye, but it would be an exaggeration to say that Zhangsun Wuji was not loyal to Your Majesty.
If the minister chosen by the late emperor would actually rebel, wouldn't that be the biggest joke? The late emperor was a sage king, the best in ancient and modern times, how could he place a rebellious person with ulterior motives by your side?
When the late emperor conferred fiefs on various dukes, he did not confer fiefdom on Zhangsun Wuji because he hoped that he could assist Your Majesty. Now, the dukes who were conferred fiefdoms outside are enjoying wealth and glory, but Zhangsun Wuji, who assisted Your Majesty, ended up with his family being exterminated.
Your Majesty is intelligent and has the spirit of the late emperor and Empress Wende. I believe you will understand the truth behind this.”
After Luo Xuanling's words, there was a sudden silence in the hall. Almost everyone lowered their heads, quietly watching the emperor's reaction from the corner of their eyes.
Duke Yong's words were both polite and impolite.
But the key lies in the choice made by the late emperor. Everyone knows that Duke of Yong, Luo Xuanling, is a close minister of the late emperor. Among the many dukes in Lingyan Pavilion, he is the number one military general. Yong is Qin. Being able to confer the title of duke on Luo Xuanling, one can imagine his status in the late emperor's heart.
Duke Yong believed that Zhangsun Wuji was a loyal minister, not only a loyal minister to Your Majesty, but also a loyal minister to the late emperor. Therefore, he should not die. There is no reason in this world for a loyal person to be killed for no reason.
Even if Changsun Wuji was a little more rampant, this outcome was enough.
Duke Yong also specifically pointed out Empress Wende, "Your Majesty, you have half the blood of Changsun. The reason you can become emperor is thanks to the Empress and Changsun Wuji. If you kill people like this, it would be really terrible."
Luo Xuanling looked at Li Zhi.
Li Zhi was also looking at Luo Xuanling, and he suddenly thought, what would happen if this happened to the previous emperor?
The late emperor had never used framing to treat loyal ministers.
The late emperor always reasoned with his subjects.
Li Zhi turned his head to look at the other ministers, and suddenly felt a little ashamed and annoyed. It was not just this matter. He suddenly remembered that during the Zhenguan period, the ministers were proud to give advice, but after entering the Yonghui period, very few ministers gave advice.
If it was because Zhangsun Wuji was in power that no one dared to offend him, then why is there still no one advising him now that Zhangsun Wuji has been in power for more than a year? Even Duke Yingguo and Duke Yongguo, two ministers who have been in power since the Zhenguan period, have never made any advice. Today was the first time that Duke Yongguo made any advice, and the result was that he pleaded for Zhangsun Wuji.
Li Zhi guessed that in the eyes of these ministers, he was not as good as the previous emperor, and by far.
Surpassing his father has always been Li Zhi's wish. The descendants of the Li family have this idea of not being willing to be inferior to others in their blood. Li Shimin was like this in the past. He wanted to prove that he was stronger than his father and brother. Li Zhi is the same now. This idea drives him to do everything.
"Duke Yong, who do you think is framing Zhangsun Wuji?"
Li Zhi narrowed his eyes and asked softly, but he was not really asking, but was trying to confirm whether Luo Xuanling really wanted to protect Changsun Wuji?
Luo Xuanling also narrowed his eyes and said generously: "I believe Wuji has never rebelled. The people who investigated the case before can be used. I can recommend a few people to investigate the case."
What to check?
The person who wronged you knows how wronged you are better than you do.
Li Zhi knew better than anyone whether Zhangsun Wuji was plotting a rebellion or not. He had ordered people to find out the evidence of the rebellion. If Luo Xuanling wanted to investigate it himself now, who wouldn't know what the result would be?
Now Li Zhi was sure that Luo Xuanling really wanted to protect Changsun Wuji.
He was a little confused as to what this matter had to do with Luo Xuanling. Luo Xuanling had clearly helped him defeat Changsun Wuji before, but now he was standing on Changsun Wuji's side.
Of course he didn't understand. Luo Xuanling had never stood on his side. He had always stood on the side of the late emperor and Luo Su. It was Luo Su's will to help Wu Zhao become the queen, and it was Li Shimin's will to save Zhangsun Wuji.
There has never been Li Zhi's will.
Li Zhi was silent for a moment, then looked at the other people in the hall, especially Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong, two of Li Zhi's loyal lackeys. Facing the emperor's gaze, the two were very embarrassed, but still stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I think what the Duke of Yong said is inappropriate.
Just as rivers flow and stars rotate, how can people not change?
As the saying goes, the human heart is like water, and this is exactly what it means.
The late emperor was the founding monarch and was extremely powerful. Even if there were treacherous people, they could only pretend to be loyal subjects. Who would dare to cause chaos?
Zhang Sun Wuji, who is secretly treacherous, is most likely such a person.
How can we conclude that Changsun Wuji has always been a loyal minister just because the late emperor thought he was a loyal minister?
What Duke Yong said is not right. As for the investigation, it is naturally the Ministry of Justice of the imperial court. I am in charge of the Ministry of Justice, so Duke Yong will not be bothered with this matter."
Li Zhi suppressed his smile and looked at Luo Xuanling with a helpless look, "Duke Yong, I think the Prime Minister's words make a lot of sense."
Luo Xuanling turned to Li Yifu, took two quick steps, and said sternly: "I think Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang have brought this upon themselves, and I don't think there's anything wrong with killing them.
But how could they die in treason?
There is a dead way to sit.
If you let a loyal minister die in treason, aren't you worried that others will feel grief-stricken and sad?
How can a loyal minister continue to be a loyal minister in the future?
The Ministry of Justice’s legal books can be changed, but can the words recorded in history be changed?
In the history of China after the end of the Han Dynasty, there are so many people who restored order, and so many people who were once slandered but are now thriving again.
The emperors who killed loyal officials were all recorded. You people actually want His Majesty to bear such a bad reputation. You deserve to die!"
Luo Xuanling's words were very heavy. He was a fierce general who charged into the battle, tall and strong. At this moment, he stood in front of Li Yifu and instantly enveloped Li Yifu. Every word he said almost hit his heart.
Li Zhi was helpless, his face was blue and red. How could he not know that Luo Xuanling was scolding Li Yifu on the surface, but in fact he was reminding himself, "Even if you edit the files of the Ministry of Justice into the best parallel prose in ancient and modern times, the history books will not record that Zhangsun Wuji wanted to rebel. You know how crude your own actions were!"
"Your Majesty, I think what Duke Yong said makes some sense."
Wu Zetian's voice came from behind the curtain. Li Zhi was startled, and then he heard Wu Zetian's voice again, "Your Majesty, you can't offend two ministers at the same time. Just exile Zhangsun Wuji to the south and let it go."
Hearing that even Wu Zhao had decided to let it go, Li Zhi suddenly felt pressured. After pretending to be in deep thought, he slowly said, "What Duke Yong said makes sense. The evidence is not particularly conclusive, and we should not hastily conclude that Zhangsun Wuji was rebelling.
The rebellion ends here and I will no longer interfere.
Changsun Wuji was transferred to be the governor of Guangzhou, and his titles and honors were stripped away. His accomplices were all demoted to commoners and exiled to Lingnan.
After waiting for a few moments, seeing that the emperor had nothing else to say, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, and Luo Xuanling also returned to the center of the hall, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
————
Zhangsun Wuji was exiled, Luo Xuanling was sent to Annan Protectorate as the Grand Protector, and the post-Zhenguan era came to an end. Li Zhi could not wait to abandon the reign title "Yonghui" and used a new reign title - "Yuan De".
He used this reign title to tell the people of the entire Tang Dynasty that a new era had begun. In this era, no one could hold him back. The Zhenguan era was a thing of the past, and now was his era. - "The Rise and Fall of the Tang Dynasty"
————
Xuan Ling said: "Wu Ji and Sui Liang were narrow-minded, arrogant and rebellious, and had the misfortune of destroying their families. This is true, but they were framed for treason and were convicted for their loyalty. Everyone felt sorry for them, just like a rabbit dies and a fox mourns. This is sad." - "Book of Tang: Zhuluo Family"
(End of this chapter)
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