Taiji Palace, Yin Yang Hall.
Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling were discussing state affairs.
After two years of hard work, the old officials loyal to the Retired Emperor were almost eliminated. State Uncle Xiao Yu had been removed from the position of Prime Minister at the end of last year. The powerful minister Pei Ji had also been arranged to get him out of the way next spring.
After that, all the trusted subordinates of King Qin's Mansion would be able to take over.
In April, Tuli had sent an envoy to the Tang Empire to ask for reinforcements, indicating that the Turks were in internal strife. A few days ago, he heard that a snowstorm had happened in the northern grassland, causing countless cows, sheep, and horses to freeze to death. Jie Li's army was severely injured. It was a good opportunity to send troops to wipe out the humiliation of the alliance at Weishui River!
However, this matter had to be brought to the imperial court for discussion. After all, it was a matter of military warfare and concerned the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. It had to be extremely cautious!
The Land Equalization System had already begun to be promoted throughout the country, and the revision of the law and the improvement of the administration of officials had also been put on the agenda.
The Tang Dynasty was gradually getting on the right track!
The only thing that Li Shiming was dissatisfied with was that the Imperial Court's suppression of the aristocratic families led by the Five Families and Seven Wangs had been thwarted!
The Cui family of Boling, the Cui family of Qinghe, the Lu family of Fanyang, the Zheng family of Xingyang, the Wang family of Taiyuan, the Li family of Zhao County, and the Dou family of the consorts.
These great clans were like malignant tumors, clinging to the Great Tang's land and citizens, threatening the new dynasty's rule.
Li Shi Min wanted to kill them all!
However, after hundreds of years of accumulation, these aristocratic families were already very powerful and had intertwined forces. The Great Tang's Imperial Court, the world's scholars, the army, agriculture, and commerce were all filled with members of the great clans.
To weaken the power of these aristocratic families, it would require the relentless efforts of more than ten generations of emperors.
Li Shi Min planned to destroy at least one of the five surnames and seven hopes during his reign.
His target was none other than the Zheng family of Xingyang, who was related to Li Jiancheng by marriage!
At that moment, he and Fang Xuanling were discussing which branch of the Zheng family in Xingyang they should start with. The chess pieces that he had placed in the Zheng family's rooms had all failed.
"Your Majesty, Lieutenant Hong Cheng of the Thousand Bull Guard has something to report.”
Hong Cheng, who was dressed in plain clothes, quickly walked into the Yin Yang Hall.
Li Shiming's eyes instantly lit up. He had arranged for Hong Cheng to pay close attention to the situation in Xi City. Could it be that Si Chen had made a breakthrough?
"There's no need to bow. Speak quickly!"
Hong Cheng immediately reported," Over at Xi City, Marquis Wu Wei's Brigade Commander Si Chen has used the case of the 'rail restriction' being destroyed to convict and arrest the manager of the Zheng family's subordinate business, the salt transport company, Hu Biao.”
"Oh?"
Li Shiming and Fang Xuanling exchanged a glance. Fang Xuanling smiled and said,"The person chosen by His Majesty is indeed fierce! It had only been three days since he was transferred to Xi City, and he had already found an opportunity to make a move on the Zheng family.”
Li Shi Min was also very satisfied and smiled,"I didn't expect him to move so quickly. He's a marquis material! Unfortunately, they only captured one manager and could not get much out of him. Without sufficient evidence, they couldn't touch the Zheng family.”
Fang Xuanling also sighed." To weaken an aristocratic family, we need to do it from many aspects. It's unrealistic to rely on one person's strength.”
"Your Majesty!"
Hong Cheng said weakly at the side," I think Si Chen seems to be able to collect a lot of relevant evidence from the arrest of Hu Biao.”
"Hmm?"
When Li Shi Min heard this, he thought of how difficult Si Chen was to deal with and those strange thoughts. He couldn't help but ask," Could it be that this kid did something special?”
"This morning, Si Chen got someone to set up a stage at the north gate of Xi City..."
Hong Cheng then built a high platform for Si Chen to pile up a large amount of copper coins and gold to reward the informant. He also explained in detail how to install hidden wooden doors in every street so that merchants in Xi City could safely report all of Hu Biao's crimes.
"I paid close attention this afternoon. Many merchants in Xi City went in and out of the wooden door again. Their expressions were slightly different before and after, and their sleeves and collars were also shifted. I can confirm that they have all submitted the report materials.”
"This…"
Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
After a long time.
F * ck!
Li Shi Min slapped his thigh and said,"How can this be?"”
By installing a revolving wooden door with a blocking function, the merchants and civilians who were persecuted and exploited could secretly submit their reports when they entered the shops of Xi City through the wooden door. Only the heavens and the earth knew about it, and it completely eliminated the hidden danger of personal safety.
Then, they would pile up a large amount of copper coins and gold coins to create trouble. Under the generous reward, there would definitely be brave men, so that even those who had no interest in Hu Biao's case were willing to participate in the report!
"Why didn't I think of such an efficient way to mobilize the people and collect evidence?”
Fang Xuanling couldn't help but laugh and praise,"This Si Chen is really a strange talent. He has many strange ideas!" Mobilize all the merchants and citizens of Xi City to report Hu Biao's crimes. I think we can definitely find a clue and catch a bigger fish!”
"Using this big fish as a breakthrough point to investigate further, sooner or later, we will be able to obtain evidence of the Zheng family's crimes. At that time, we will have a reason to make a move against the Zheng family.”
"Not bad."
Li Shiming felt that the worries that had been accumulating in his chest for many days had been resolved. He nodded and smiled," Si Chen is a talent, and he has a demonic nature. My empress and Chang Le have been listening to Princess Pingyang talk about Si Chen these past few days and are fascinated! I wonder how happy I will be if I hear about the strange things like building a stage and installing a wooden door again…"
"This won't do. I'm going to the Administrative Hall right now to personally tell them about this matter. Fang Xiang, you can go back first."
After saying that, Li Shi Min hurriedly set off for the Administrative Hall.
"Your Majesty, we haven't finished discussing state affairs…"
Fang Xuanling waved his hand and wanted to shout, but the emperor had already disappeared.
At the same time, in the Qi Public House.
Zhangsun Wuji also received news of Xi City.
Ever since he found out that the Emperor was going to transfer Si Chen to Xi City and attack the aristocratic families, Zhangsun Wuji had arranged for people to keep an eye on the situation in Xi City.
He had to be informed of any actions by the Wuhou Wei of Xi City!
"I'm afraid the Zheng family is finished."
Zhangsun Wuji sighed lightly and immediately asked the butler to call Zhangsun You, the person in charge of the Zhangsun Family in Xi City, to the residence.
He wanted to personally instruct Zhangsun You to immediately cut off all business collaborations with the Zheng Family. He also restrained his subordinates from doing anything illegal. Those with previous records would immediately tie themselves up in Chang 'an County and plead guilty!
PS: 1. Xiao Yu, prime minister of the early Tang Dynasty, the seventh son of Emperor Xiao Kui of Liang Ming, and the younger brother of Empress Xiao of Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty. At the end of November of the first year of Zhenguan, he was dismissed from office. The reason was that Tang Jian was sent to the Turks, and Xiao Yu asked him to hide a letter to his sister, Empress Xiao, who had taken refuge in the Turks.
2. Pei Ji, the founding minister of the Tang Dynasty. In the third year of Zhenguan (629 years), he was implicated by the monk Faya and exiled to Jingzhou.
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