202 Chapter 202
◎From summer to winter.◎
Wei Zheng's work progressed very slowly at first. Due to the emperor's edict, those who held high positions in the court had to give some grain as a token of their gratitude. However, the aristocratic families who relied on the emperor's remoteness found all kinds of excuses and were always unwilling to hand over the grain.
According to Li Chengqian's plan, if the food lost on the road was added, the farther away from the disaster-stricken area, the more food had to be handed over. No one was willing to suffer this loss, so Wei Zheng's grain collection plan came to a standstill.
The next step was to show his power. Wei Zheng picked and chose and chose one to attack first.
"The Kong family?" Li Chengqian was eating grapes and nearly choked on the seeds when he heard this. He quickly spat them out onto his plate. "The Kong family, the Kong family is great. We should start with them."
Since Emperor Taizu of Han, Liu Bang, the direct descendants of Confucius have had hereditary titles. Therefore, although the Kong family is not as populous and powerful as the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Clans, it is many times stronger than those small families. In addition, thanks to the blessing of their ancestor Confucius, the Kong family has enjoyed a special status in all dynasties. Taking action against the Kong family can indeed serve as a warning to others.
Moreover, the Kong family is indeed not clean. Scholars all over the world respect Confucius, but the Kong family and Confucius have always been two different things.
"That sounds like you're gloating over someone else's misfortune." Li Shimin handed him a handkerchief. "Wipe it off after you've eaten it."
Li Chengqian put the handkerchief aside and continued peeling grapes: "What's wrong with gloating? If the Kong family is innocent, I want to gloat over their misfortune, but do I have the chance?"
"They're not upright. Mr. Kong is still saying this is a disgrace to our ancestors. Haven't their family members been disgraced by their ancestors enough?" Li Chengqian bit a grape viciously. "I suggest that their family be hanged collectively in the Confucius Cemetery as an apology to Confucius!"
Li Shimin said impartially: "Kong Yingda is different from the Kong family. Cheng Qian, although he is a bit pedantic, he is still a good official..."
"Then he failed to discipline his children properly," Li Chengqian said decisively. "He has talent but no moral integrity, so he's unfit to be a human being."
Is Kong Yingda the only one allowed to make a fuss? Is Kong Yingda the only one allowed to use the reputation given to him by the crown prince as a stepping stone? Li Chengqian sneered. He thought it was time for him to taste the bitterness of this.
Li Shimin gasped, "Cheng Qian, Kong Yingda's crime is unacceptable!" After a pause, he continued, "Wei Zheng targeted the Kong family simply to intimidate all the other noble families. He definitely didn't intend to bring the Kong family down."
After all, disaster relief is an urgent matter and cannot be delayed.
Li Chengqian nodded. "I know, but the Kong family is guilty and cannot be concealed. Father, their ancestors said that if one does not correct one's mistakes, it is a sin. Can Kong Yingda not come and apologize to you?"
Li Shimin said, "He has already come here, and there is no final result from Wei Zheng's side, so I did not punish him. I only asked him to go back and tell the Kong family to cooperate with Wei Zheng and find out the truth as soon as possible."
"Father, if the Kong family really did it, do you think Kong Yingda would cover it up?" Li Chengqian asked.
Li Shimin was silent for a moment before he said, "Cheng Qian, when water is too clear, there are no fish."
Li Chengqian wiped his hands slowly and said, "Yes, even Confucius couldn't be absolutely fair and just, let alone one of his descendants who are several generations older."
Soon, Wei Zheng's memorial was presented to the emperor. He found out more than ten crimes of the Kong family, including occupying land, oppressing the people, and abusing private punishment. Although these people were from the side branches of the Kong family and the illegitimate children of the illegitimate children, they were able to commit these crimes only because they relied on their surname Kong.
Kong Yingda, weeping profusely, went to the palace to plead guilty, lamenting his own failure to discipline his family, leading to such a disaster that brought disgrace upon his ancestors. He demanded to resign and return home to rectify his family's conduct. Of course, the emperor refused, stating that he was far away in the capital, not a direct descendant, and therefore irrelevant to his work. The court still needed his services, but Kong Yingda insisted on resigning, and the emperor had no choice but to agree.
As for the crimes of those around the Kong family, they must be punished if necessary. Depending on the severity of their crimes, those who should be killed should be killed, and those who should be exiled should be exiled. After everything was dealt with, the Kong family became much quieter.
Li Chengqian calculated the situation and said, "Without these people, the Kong family would have to save a lot of food. Their family is close to Shandong, so it's quite convenient to transport food there."
"Speaking of transporting grain, don't we need to build a road?" Li Chengqian said, "When I go back and check the cement, we will also have to build a cement road."
Li Shimin looked up from his memorial and asked, "What is cement?"
Li Chengqian was working on his abacus quickly and answered casually, "Road construction."
Li Shimin changed the question: "How is cement made?"
Li Chengqian stopped and said, "You've stumped me."
Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you need to go back and ask someone?"
"Oh, I said the wrong thing." Li Chengqian smiled, "But I won't tell you."
Li Shimin laughed and said, "Okay, you can only tell me after I go to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the gods, right?"
Li Chengqian tilted his head in agreement.
"Let's get back to the road construction," Li Shimin said. "The drought hasn't eased yet, and the situation will be unstable this autumn and next year. We have to put the road construction on hold."
Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "Isn't there a work-for-relief program?"
Li Shimin nodded slowly: "There is indeed such a method, but how to apply it requires careful planning, Cheng Qian..."
"Don't call me, I don't know." Li Chengqian refused, "I don't care about this."
"You don't care about good things, but you rush to do bad things." Li Shimin slammed the table, "You must take care of this matter!"
Li Chengqian pushed the abacus aside, stood up and said, "Let's go find my mother!"
Li Shimin: “…”
The prince could resign, but the emperor couldn't. Li Shimin picked up his pen, feeling unhappy, and said, "Call the Secretariat!"
I can't rest, so you can't rest either.
…
His Majesty the Emperor's busyness lasted from summer to autumn, and from autumn to winter.
There are already specific and detailed regulations on work-for-relief. In the future, wherever it can be applied, it will be implemented in accordance with the law.
The disaster relief in summer and autumn cost the aristocratic families a lot of money, but the emperor sent Wei Zheng, a stubborn man who really dared to kill people. The aristocratic families had to endure it for the time being, thinking that they could get it back slowly in the future.
The surrender of Princess Xiangcheng, the weakening of the Turks, and the entry of Lingnan into the court were rare good news amidst natural and man-made disasters.
The days passed slowly, and when Li Chengqian remembered that Li Zhi was supposed to be born in June of the next year, it was already November.
"After ten months of pregnancy, logically speaking, my mother should be pregnant by now?" Li Chengqian counted on his fingers.
Li Ying said, "I remember it was nine months. Even if your ancient medical skills were backward, your mother should be..." He gestured in front of his belly, "Can you see it?"
Li Chengqian clasped his left hand around his right fist and said, "It seems that Zhinu will be born later. But that's good too. My mother hasn't fully recovered yet, so it's not suitable for childbirth right now."
Speaking of this, Li Chengqian remembered Sun Simiao's medical advice. It seemed that Tian Khan had followed the doctor's advice carefully, otherwise A Niang would not have been pregnant yet.
At this moment, a palace maid came to invite him, saying that the Queen wanted him to have dinner.
It was already winter, but Li Chengqian was still living in Lizheng Palace. He didn't need to take medicine anymore, but it was obvious that Tian Khan was still worried about letting his son live alone in the Eastern Palace.
Just as he thought of Li Zhi, Li Chengqian recalled his previous life. Li Zhi was raised by Tian Khan since he was a child. If it were not for the request of his ministers, he would not be willing to let his beloved son leave his side.
I actually enjoy the treatment of a young slave. Li Chengqian sighed in his heart. This is too strange. I'd better move back to the East Palace as soon as possible.
It just so happened that Tian Khan also came back during dinner today. After everyone put down their chopsticks, Li Chengqian again proposed to move back to the East Palace.
Thinking about what happened last time Cheng Qian brought up this topic, Li Shimin considered how to object, but Changsun had already spoken before him.
"Why would you want to go back when everything is fine? It's freezing cold now. Mother will feel relieved if you stay here."
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Mother, light the charcoal fire. The Eastern Palace won't be cold. Besides, I'll still come here every day to greet you. It won't make any difference if we live here together."
Chang Sun frowned and said, "It's such a long way from the East Palace. If it snows and it's cold and slippery, how can I and your father feel at ease?"
When Li Shimin heard his wife mention him, he quickly agreed, "Your mother is right, Chengqian. Besides, there have been many natural disasters this year, and everyone in the palace is tightening their belts. If you go back to the East Palace, you'll definitely use more charcoal than here. You'll be betraying your original intention to serve the country and the people."
Li Chengqian was speechless. He...wasn't that good. He was just poisoned by modern education and could no longer be a feudal landlord who just enjoyed himself.
Moreover, looking at the silk clothes on his body and thinking about the delicious meal he had just had, the feudal emperor's requirements for frugality were really low.
Wearing a set of clothes for two more days and having two fewer dishes at a meal is considered frugality.
Li Chengqian checked his conscience. As a defender of the feudal system, he had no right to look down on others.
Seeing that Li Chengqian didn't say anything, Li Lizhi and Li Yuxiu also came to persuade their eldest brother. After all, they liked playing with their eldest brother the most, and of course they wanted their eldest brother to stay in Lizheng Hall. It would be inconvenient for them to find him if he went to the Eastern Palace!
Li Tai didn't really want to persuade him. He thought there was nothing wrong with his elder brother living alone in the big and spacious East Palace. But everyone was trying to persuade him, and he couldn't say anything to support his elder brother, so he had to remain silent.
After a while, Li Chengqian finally spoke: "Mother, I can't stay by your side forever. My son has to grow up sooner or later, right?"
Zhang Sun sighed softly, her eyes slightly red. "Yes, Cheng Qian, Qing Que, Li Zhi, Yu Xiu, you are all growing up. You can still stay with your mother for a few more years..."
Now everyone was getting restless. Li Shimin and the children all came forward to comfort their mother. Li Chengqian didn't even dare to mention the matter of moving out of the Lizheng Hall, for fear that his mother would really cry in front of him.
After much difficulty in persuading their mother, the children chatted with her for a while before being urged to go back to their rooms to rest.
Chang Sun stroked her temples and said, "I don't know how long I can keep Cheng Qian."
Li Shimin blinked, not quite daring to believe what he heard: "Guanyinbi, is this... a self-torture scheme?"
Zhang Sun smiled and said, "Erlang is good at fighting, so I should at least know a thing or two about military tactics, right?"
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