Chapter 303 Letters

After questioning the prisoners, Li Chengqian and others returned to the Dali Temple.

"Di Qing was able to handle the case impartially and clear the injustices of these prisoners, so that they not only received the punishment they deserved, but also educated them to change their ways."

"If all the officials of my Tang Dynasty could be as discerning as Di Qing, wouldn't the world be peaceful and prosperous?"

"Officials who govern the prison should be as fair and just as Di Qing, so that the world can be peaceful." Li Chengqian praised Di Renjie.

Li Chengqian encouraged Di Renjie a few more words and ended the conversation. He left the Dali Temple gate with the farewell of the officials of the Dali Temple and boarded the carriage to return to the palace.

...

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" The envoy Tian Jiang, who was sent to Tibet to deliver the imperial edict, returned and met the emperor.

"You have worked hard all the way. Did your mission to Tubo go smoothly? How did Songtsen Gampo of Tubo respond to my imperial edict?" Li Chengqian asked. "

This mission to Tubo went very smoothly. Tubo treated me with great courtesy! Songtsen Gampo even met me in person and hosted a banquet for me."

"Songtsen Gampo of Tubo was very happy to receive your majesty's imperial edict, and he never forgot to ask about the affairs of the Tang Dynasty."

"When I came back this time, Songtsen Gampo asked me to bring a lot of gifts to your majesty to express his congratulations to your majesty." Tian Jiang said.

"This Songtsen Gampo is really kind-hearted. Since he has sent all the gifts, it would be embarrassing if I don't accept them." Li Chengqian smiled and accepted Songtsen Gampo's gift.

However, Li Chengqian was a little wary of Tian Jiang's words that he never forgot to ask about the domestic affairs of the Tang Dynasty.

Even if they were relatives, the two countries could not casually inquire about the domestic situation of each other. Li Chengqian had reason to believe that Songzan Ganbu had other plans.

"You have worked hard on this journey, so go back and rest first!" Li Chengqian said.

"Your Majesty! I have something to report to Your Majesty." Tian Jiang said.

"What is it?" Li Chengqian said.

"Songzan Ganbu secretly exchanged letters with the Grand Marshal Changsun Wuji, and asked me to bring the letters back and give them to the Grand Marshal." Tian Jiang said.

"Oh! Is the letter still in your hands now?" Li Chengqian asked.

Li Chengqian knew the content of the letter without having to guess. He had seen the content of the letter from Songzan Ganbu to Changsun Wuji in the history books of later generations.

"It is no longer with me. I just returned to Chang'an and met Changsun Yan, the son of the Taiwei family. I gave him the letter and asked him to pass it on to the Taiwei. It should be in the hands of the Taiwei now." Tian Jiang said.

"I already know about this matter. Don't make it public. Leave!" Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"Yes!" Tian Jiang bowed and left.

After Tian Jiang left, Li Chengqian said to Wang Quan: "You go to the Ministry of Personnel in person and ask the Taiwei to come to see me. I have something important to discuss with him."

"Yes!" Wang Quan took the order and left the hall quickly.

When Wang Quan came to Menxia Province to look for Changsun Wuji, he had just finished reading the letter Songzan Ganbu sent him. Wang Quan stated his purpose, and Changsun Wuji hurriedly put the letter in his arms and went with Wang Quan to meet the emperor.

"The old minister Changsun Wuji pays homage to Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji saluted to Li Chengqian.

He didn't know why the emperor suddenly summoned him to see him.

Li Chengqian held a teacup in his hand, looked lazy, and lay on the throne with one leg on the armrest.

"No need to be polite, Taiwei! Stand up, Wang Quan will give you a seat!" Li Chengqian said.

"Yes!" Wang Quan accepted the order.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji stood up to thank him and sat on the chair brought by Wang Quan.

He felt sad that since the death of the previous emperor, the emperor has abandoned many of the original rules. For example, when the monarch and his ministers meet to discuss matters, they no longer sit on the ground, but prepare chairs for the ministers.

Changsun Wuji was worried that if this continued, the emperor would mess things up, changing it this way today and that way tomorrow.

What's more, it always feels inappropriate to discuss matters on a chair. How can it be better to sit on the ground and discuss politics with the monarch and his ministers facing each other?

If Li Chengqian knew what Changsun Wuji was thinking, he would definitely laugh to death. It's good enough to have a seat for you.

Look at the Song Dynasty. When discussing matters with the emperor, the ministers didn't even have a seat and could only stand. It was good enough to have a seat.

"I don't know, Your Majesty! Why do you urgently summon this old minister? What do you want?" Changsun Wuji asked.

Li Chengqian sat up straight and said, "The imperial edict to Songtsen Gampo of Tubo, he has received my imperial edict, and the returning envoy also brought back his tribute!"

"That's right! Why does your majesty ask this?" Changsun Wuji didn't understand at all. Li Chengqian hurriedly called him here just for this matter.

This is too much of a joke! There are still many things in the Ministry of Personnel that need him to handle personally, and there are still many things that need him, Changsun Wuji, to preside over.

"I heard that Songtsen Gampo of Tubo not only sent me gifts and congratulated me on my first ascension to the throne, but also sent a private letter to Changsun Taiwei. Is this true?" Li Chengqian asked.

Changsun Wuji was shocked when he heard this. Could it be that the emperor misunderstood him, or someone was trying to sow discord between him and the emperor.

Changsun Wuji did not dare to hide anything: "Songzan Ganbu did send a letter to me, and I asked the messenger to bring it back."

"Oh!" Li Chengqian said: "Songzan Ganbu is my cousin's husband. According to seniority, he should also respectfully call you uncle."

"It is normal for an uncle to exchange letters with his nephew's husband. I am just a little curious about what my cousin's husband wrote to you, uncle?"

Li Chengqian's light words were undoubtedly a curse to Changsun Wuji's ears.

If he was accused of having secret dealings with foreign countries and intending to commit adultery, then Changsun Wuji would die without a burial place.

Changsun Wuji did not dare to neglect and hurriedly told Li Chengqian the whole story. He had just received a letter from Songzan Ganbu.

"Your Majesty! Songzan Ganbu wrote to me, saying that Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and is afraid that someone in the court may have disloyal intentions."

"If there are disloyal officials, he is willing to take the lead and help to eliminate the disloyal officials and thieves."

Changsun Wuji was afraid that Li Chengqian would not believe him and cause some misunderstanding, which would affect the relationship between them.

Changsun Wuji took out the letter Songzan Ganbu had given him from his pocket and handed it to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Majesty, please read this. This is the letter Songzan Ganbu has given to me. Everything I have said is true and absolutely true."

Wang Quan took the letter from Changsun Wuji, turned to Li Chengqian, and respectfully handed the letter to him.

Li Chengqian took the letter and slowly opened it. On the rough paper was written in Chinese characters: "When the emperor first ascended the throne, if there are disloyal officials, the emperor should send troops to the country to eliminate them."

It seemed that Changsun Wuji had not lied to him and it was really as he said.