Chapter 73: court meeting

In the early morning, Li Shimin put on court clothes under the service of the maids, and after breakfast, he went down to Taiji Hall accompanied by Wang Gui. It was already mid-October, and the air was slightly chilly. Li Shimin had just stepped out of the Manna Hall. The body shrank involuntarily, looking at the fallen leaves in the yard, Li Shimin suddenly said with emotion: "Is winter in the Tang Dynasty coming again?"

At this time, the Tai Chi Hall was as silent as a winter night. The ministers arrived very early today, which was different from the past. They made a mistake, but kept the same serious face and kept making eye contact, because they understood that today's court meeting will determine the fate of a prince, and it involves the emperor's family affairs, which is absolutely no joke.

Changsun Wuji looked around and glanced at the four princes with different expressions. Li Chengqian was full of joy and sorrow, Li Ke was as calm as water, and Li Tai and Li You's expressions were gloating, but Li You was more obvious. , Changsun Wuji knew about the conflict between Li You and Li Yin in Lichun Courtyard, and Li You was a small-hearted person, so he was happy to see Li Yin in trouble. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smiled contemptuously. You's biological mother, Concubine Yin, was a bitter and mean person, how could her son be so good!

Just when all the officials were thinking about it, Li Shimin walked into the Tai Chi Hall with heavy steps, neither slow nor hasty. He sat on the dragon chair and did not speak in a hurry, because he knew that some people were more anxious than him.

"Your Majesty, the sixth prince, Li Yin, is suspected of regicide and usurpation of the throne. He has committed a heinous crime. Please order the sixth prince to be arrested immediately and imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple!"

The person who spoke was Zhang Liang, a doctor of Guanglu, who was also a veteran of the Qin family. In the first year of Wude, he followed Xu Shiji, that is, later Li Shiji went to Li Shimin. Unexpectedly, he was Li Shimin's confidant minister, but after Li Shimin succeeded to the throne, Zhang Liang felt inferior to his farming background and always wanted to find a backer. At this moment, Wei Wang Li Tai extended an olive branch to him.

Li Shimin was displeased. What he tabooed most was that the old officials of the Qin family participated in the battles between the princes. Ke is basically surrounded by those noble children who rely on their ancestors' meritorious deeds to eat, drink and have fun. Together they cannot be compared.

Li Shimin's displeasure did not show. Years of power struggles have long since honed his ability to keep his face from falling apart. Would it be too childish to convict a prince of treason, if so, no one in the court would be in danger!"

"Your Majesty, although a secret guard's confession is not enough to convict the sixth prince of killing the king and usurping the throne, the folk proverb says that flies do not bite seamless eggs. It's just that the sixth prince doesn't have the heart. It's too late for him to be full-fledged, to prevent accidents, even if the emperor can't convict him of treason, he should exile the sixth prince for three thousand miles and demote him as a commoner!"

"The ministers and Master Zhang have the same opinion!" As soon as Zhang Liang finished speaking, six more officials stood up, all of them were officials of the fifth rank or above in red robes.

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling with a smile, "Do you all mean the same?"

"Your Majesty, I do not agree. Although the sixth prince was stubborn before, he was extremely filial. How could he have the intention of killing his father? Moreover, the old minister suspects that the sixth prince was also framed by the Chang family. If the sixth prince is really killed or To be exiled for three thousand miles is to fall into Chang's tricks, to make enemies laugh and relatives cry!" Li Shimin had already talked with Changsun Wuji, and now Li Shimin looked at him, that meant he was asked to speak out.

"Your Majesty, what the eldest grandson said is exactly what the ministers want to say!" After the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Zhu Suiliang, Cen Wenwen, Cui Shao, the four purple-robed ministers said at the same time.

Seeing this, no matter how stupid people are, they all understand that this is what Li Shimin meant, and they followed suit one by one. Li Tai's expression was like a layer of green paint, and he tried his best to contact the minister everywhere, but unexpectedly it was Zhu After a game of fetching water, a strong sense of frustration rose in his heart. When Li Yin didn't come back, Li Shimin liked him the most. The strong anger gradually destroyed his reason, otherwise he was as smart as before. You should give up, "Father, although the words of the eldest grandson are reasonable, if Li Min really colluded with the Chang family, wouldn't it have planted a hidden danger in our Tang Dynasty? My son and minister heard that a ruler should plan ahead. Father is A generation of Mingjun should understand this truth even more!"

"Li Tai, you are presumptuous, how dare you speak rudely to the father, do you want to say that the father is a fool?" Li Chengqian pointed at Li Tai and shouted.

"Your Majesty, the old minister has something to say!" At this time, Wei Zheng, who had been silent all this time, stood up, "Your Majesty, what the eldest grandson said is reasonable, and what Mr. Zhang and the fourth prince said is also reasonable. I think that the sixth prince must be punished, otherwise we cannot Peace of mind, but don't punish too severely, otherwise everyone will be in danger in the future!"

Li Shimin nodded. He deliberately didn't discuss this matter with Wei Zheng, because he knew that Wei Zheng would not favor any side, and he was speaking fairly. After a compromise, it would be beneficial to his decision. He looked at Li Tai in disappointment, Li Shimin He said: "Wei Zheng's words are reasonable. Let's do this. From now on, Li Min will be named the king of Shu and transferred to the governor of Yizhou. He will take up the post within three days. He will not be ordered by the emperor and will not be allowed to return to Beijing! What do you think?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin shouted loudly after performing the oboe to the end.

"The emperor is wise!"

"..."

This result is also acceptable to Li Tai, after all, after chasing Li Yin out of Chang'an, he faded out of the hearts of rights.

The matter of Li Yin was settled, Li Shimin signaled to Wang Gui, he loved Li Tai in every possible way before, which gave Li Tai the illusion that he could replace Li Chengqian and ascend the throne, now he must warn this son.

"Shu King Li Ke, self-restraint and morality, diligent in government affairs, and virtuous, will be changed to Yongzhou Mu from now on, and Yan King Li You will be changed to Qi King and appointed Governor of Qizhou, and he will go to the post at a certain date!"

"Thank you, Father, Long En!" Li Ke was overjoyed. Yongzhou Mu is Jing Zhaoyi, who is equivalent to the highest chief executive of the capital. Li Shimin also held this position before, and now he is entrusting this important task to Li Ke. , It is also to give Li Chengqian and King Wei a disarm, and tell them clearly that you can only take what I give, and you can’t grab it if I don’t give it.

Gaining the East, losing Sangyu, Li Tai's heart is full of mixed feelings, and Li Chengqian's heart is even more unpleasant. The eldest grandson Wuji and Fang Xuanling who had been facing him before did not impeach Li Min according to his words this time, and Li Shimin He also didn't pursue the matter of sending the geisha into the palace, which made him even more puzzled. What he didn't know was that Li Shimin and the two had already reached a deal.