At noon the next day, Marquis Helian went to Mingli Hall to thank him for the reward.
Fuman stopped Marquis Helian and advised: "Marquis, wait a minute, the emperor is taking a nap at the moment, and he will not be able to summon Marquis until later." He turned to his side, "If you are not in a hurry, just wait here first. ."
Helianhou came here today to show his loyalty, and the rumors in Yongcheng kept him up at night, lest the emperor Li Jianting get angry and copy his Fei clan. He immediately nodded yes and waited under the sun.
The noon was scorching hot, and after half an hour passed, Hou Helian was sweating like water. He didn't dare to ask, his heart sank more and more, and in the silent gaze of the surrounding eunuchs, he was aware of the new emperor's punishment.
"Marquis," Fuman called softly, "Why don't you wait in the side hall first? It's such a hot day."
Marquis Helian forced a smile, wiped the sweat with his sleeve, and said, "It doesn't matter."
Yongcheng's food relief was organized by him. If something went wrong, he couldn't get rid of it. If Li Jianting suspects that he is colluding with the chaotic party, his head will definitely not be able to keep his head. At this moment, let alone let him wait, let him kneel and wait, as long as he can save his life, he is willing to do it. After an unknown amount of time, Helian Hou's back was like a hot iron plate. His face was pale, his sweat had turned into a dry sweat, he felt dizzy before his eyes, and he was standing with perseverance.
The bead curtain swayed slightly, Feng Quan showed half of his body, and said softly: "The emperor is awake, and his hands and feet are quicker. Don't delay the emperor's time to deal with government affairs."
The eunuchs and palace eunuchs who were waiting under the eaves brought their basins in, and it didn't take long for Helianhou to hear his name. He lifted his robe and went up the steps, and when he reached the front of the hall, his old eyes were so dizzy that he had to help Fu Man.
"Oh," Fu Manman looked worried, "Master Hou, Master Hou, what's wrong?"
Marquis Helian felt a sullen air in his chest, which made him nauseous, it was actually a heat stroke. Li Jianting waited in the hall, Helian Hou hurriedly stood firm, his legs were shaking a little, he could only whisper to Fuman: "No... it doesn't matter..."
"There's an ice basin in there," Fuman whispered, "you just went in to cool off the heat."
Marquis Helian stepped into the door, bowed his head and knelt down in salute in front of the imperial case, his voice weak: "Chen, I see the emperor, the emperor is very blessed."
Li Jianting held the book and did not look up.
Helian Hou bowed his body and did not dare to move, his breathing eased, and the sweat on his forehead soon wet his sleeves.
"I looked at the records of Liang Maoshan and said that the Fei family was occupying the land in Trent City." Li Jianting drank a sip of herbal tea and said in a gentle voice, "Do you know about this?"
Helian Hou's sweat turned into cold sweat, he said: "I know, the Supreme Court has impeached the minister, and the cabinet has approved a ticket for the Ministry of Punishment to cooperate with the officials of the Ministry of Household to go to Trent to inspect the land tax, and let Xue Xiuzhuo of Dali Temple be the superintendent. Inspector."
"Now the Ministry of Household says that you, the Fei clan in Trent City, the Pan clan in Dancheng and the Han clan in Wucheng, colluded to deceive the imperial court, misappropriated the land tax, and severely punished the people in the territory, so that a hundred people from Trent City fled the country last year." Li Jianting said, "It is true that Is there any such thing?"
Marquis Helian burned in all five, propped himself up for a few breaths, and said in a hurry, "Chen, I don't dare..."
Li Jianting threw Zhezi on Marquis Helian, and said in a cold voice, "Don't you dare? Didn't Trent City starve to death in winter? You not only colluded with the Pan family, but also joined forces with Juexi merchants to flatter the rebels with food from the people of Trent City! Do you think I don't know, Yuan Fu doesn't know? The court has long been watching you bony gangrene!"
Marquis Helian almost collapsed to the ground. He cried with tears in his eyes, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The Xiande Nianhua Party unites with the Pan Party to control the government. With the help of the Queen Mother, this minister has no choice but to save the family's life!" The ground burst into tears, "The people of Trent are just like the sons of the ministers. They have been in charge of the Fei clan since the time when the Taizu respected the world. If the ministers were not driven to a dead end, how would they dare to do such things that are inferior to pigs and dogs! As for food , Your Majesty, this minister sees that your Majesty is worried about Yongcheng's food, and can't help but feel agitated, that you will fall into the trap of the Shen's thief so easily!"
When Helianhou was about to die, he got smart, pushed the relationship clean, and kept his mouth shut.
"Han Cheng is domineering and repeatedly coerced the minister to help him kill the monarch and stand up for himself," Helianhou looked up at Li Jianting with tears on his face, "But the minister is a courtier of the Li family, so I can't live with him! At the banquet that night, the minister desperately escorted him. ...the minister deserves what he deserves, and I only hope that the emperor can take care of the great kindness of Taizu and spare the children of the minister's family..."
Li Jianting seemed to be moved, and said, "The Great Ancestor was kind and entrusted the Eight Cities to you, but you made a huge mistake for your own selfish interests."
"This minister knows that he deserves the death penalty," Helian Hou sobbed silently, "... I owe tens of thousands of land taxes... Even if there is only one person left in Fei's debt, he will try his best to fill it."
As long as Li Jianting does not kill Helianhou, Helianhou is not only willing to return the fertile land, but also to pay for the land tax. The location of Trent City was more special than that of Dan City. It was close to Di City, connected to the waterway, and was inextricably linked with Juexi. It was really possible for him to make up for the money. But Helianhou, like the rest of the aristocratic clan, did not say how long it would take to make up the land tax.
Li Jianting turned around and seemed to be in deep thought. After a while, she said, "Your sin is unforgivable. I am thinking of your willingness to solve the troubles in Yongcheng. If you have a conscience, I will spare your life."
Helianhou was relieved, and hurriedly kowtowed: "Your Majesty's Sacred Heart is merciful..."
"But you have formed a party for personal gain, and you have lost the grace of the Taizu. The 'Marquis Helian' cannot be kept," Li Jianting did not give Helian Marquis a chance to breathe, "and the occupation of civilian fields."
Helianhou's heart was suspended again.
"Fuman," Li Jianting said toward the door, "pull those bastards out."
Fukuman responded, and after a while, the guards escorted a few people to kneel in the open space in front of the hall. Marquis Helian looked back, and through the beaded curtain, he found that these people were all officials he had set up in the yamen of Trent City.
"Although Taizu handed over the eight cities to you, the eight cities are still surnamed 'Li'. It is my grace and forgiveness that you can escape the death penalty. These people deceive people, practice the law, and run rampant tyranny," Li Jianting stood at He Next to Lianhou, he stretched out his slender palm and patted Helianhou's shoulder lightly, "They displaced the people in the country, damn it. Blessed."
Fu Man raised his voice proudly: "Put the stick—hit!"
As soon as Fu Man's voice fell, the iron rod suddenly hit the human body, and the sound made Hou Helian tremble.
Several people were stuffed with things, neither pulling them to Duanchengmen according to the rules of the court, nor wrapping them in cotton-padded clothes. Their official uniforms have long been stripped off, and they are wearing underwear. The eunuchs holding sticks were all from Dongchang, and they beat them to death.
Helianhou hummed in his ears, and Mingli Hall was very cold, making him feel cold all over. The sound of the beating continued, one of them tilted his head twice, the blood between his mouth wet the white cloth and whimpered towards Helian Hou. The entire Mingli Hall was very quiet, the eunuchs stood with their hands down, only the sound of "bang, bang, bang".
After half an hour, the smell of blood filled his nose.
Li Jianting didn't look at Helian Hou again, and only said, "Go on."
Helianhou tripped himself when he got up, and thumped back to his knees on the cold and hard floor. Fu Man winked at the little eunuch, and they set up Helianhou and sent them out. Helianhou's boots stepped on the bloody water, he opened his eyes wide and looked at his feet.
The pool of blood reflected the official robes of Marquis Helian.
Marquis Helian staggered a few steps, only to feel that the world was spinning, and he was frightened and fainted.
Li Jianting was leaning in the chair, and through the dark window, he could see Fuman ordering the guards to clean up the corpse on the ground.
Fengquan picked up the memorial that had been thrown on the ground, and said in a low voice, "This scene is really terrifying."
"You haven't seen the Shura Field," Li Jianting's eyes were hidden in the dimness, "When the Dancheng epidemic was rampant, the refugees crowded to the gate of Qidu, trying to get in through the channel, and finally filled the channel, and the corpse stench filled the air... Who If you don't save people, that scene is terrifying."
Fengquan did not touch the imperial case, and only put the memorial back lightly.
"Troubled times use heavy code," Li Jianting paused for a long time, "Let Helian Hou live for a while. Has Xue Yanqing been to you recently?"
Feng Quan bowed and replied, "He came to ask about the emperor's daily life."
"Cen Xunyi is an old man in the court, and he is very far-sighted when he is afraid of China. This time I did not obey Xue Yanqing's intentions," Li Jianting said, "it should be compensated."
"Master Xue has clean sleeves, and he was very frugal when he was in the mansion, so he is very famous in Taixue. If the emperor rewards him with gold and silver vulgar things..." Fengquan lowered his eyes and gradually stopped his voice.
Li Jianting pondered for a moment, then said: "Jiang Qingshan has done a good job in raising food, and treats the people like a son. Let Yuan Fu look at it and draw up a ticket. I heard that his wife Liu's is also very famous, and we rewarded them together."
Jiang Qingshan is Xue Xiuzhuo's cadre in Juexi, and rewarding him is to appease Xue Xiuzhuo. Besides, Jiang Qingshan, Li Jianting still has his use. Qi Zhuyin, the king of Donglie, is now unchecked, but the Qidong garrison needs military rations, and Li Jianting put the key to the granary in Jiang Qingshan's hands.
Feng Quanxi said yes, be extra careful when retreating.
* * *
"The new emperor is very sharp, this check and balance is really powerful." Xiao Chiye pushed aside the military affairs and read the news of Qidu again, "In order to appease Xue Xiuzhuo and appreciate Jiang Qingshan, she can firstly deter the commander, and secondly, she can threaten Xue Xiuzhuo, who holds the direction of the practical school and the Taixue."
"Xue Xiuzhuo's change of emperor was so easy, she had to guard against it. Jiang Qingshan was a great official in the frontier, and he was not favored by the Li family in Xiande Nian and Tianchen Nian. Putting aside his letter, "I think her way of dealing with Helianhou was unexpected."
"Yes," Xiao Chiye looked towards the opposite side, "She is quite courageous."
Li Jianting killed the corrupt officials to intimidate Helianhou. Shen Zechuan really didn't think of it. He pinched the pen and poked the ink, and said, "I thought she would find an excuse to kill Helianhou, but I didn't think she could hold back her anger."
"Marquis Helian originally refused to have money, but now he was so scared that he was willing to fill the void, and even gave up the house." Xiao Chiye raised his head slightly and slouched in his chair, "The empress has more leeway than Xue Xiuzhuo, who swears to give her both kindness and power. The aristocratic family has been beaten to this point, and seeing how she treats Helianhou like this, she will definitely fill the gap spontaneously, in order to make up for her shortcomings in exchange for a chance of life."
What is the Cabinet Audit for? It is Tian and Qian. If it weren't for Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, Li Jianting might have followed Xue Xiuzhuo's path without end, but she was too old to be ridiculous and understood that what Cen Yu said was true. At this moment, Shen Zechuan is more terrifying than dealing with the Eight Great Families.
"It's amazing," Shen Zechuan held his pen and traced Xiao Chiye's eyes in a false way, "This is a real emperor."
"I didn't believe that someone could be born to be an emperor, but she is indeed extremely talented, and she lived in the compound for only five years." Xiao Chiye pinched Shen Zechuan's wrist across the table, "-Do you want a reward?"
"I've only been in Zhaosin Temple for five years." Shen Zechuan kicked his clogs away from under the table and rubbed up along the side of Xiao Chiye's legs. His fingers loosened slightly, the pen fell on the table, and a few horizontal afterimages fell between the papers. Lan Zhou pressed his fingers on the bridge of Xiao Chiye's nose and said, "Give it to me quickly."