The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 696 Anonymous Report Letter

"Ah, right."

When Li Yan was about to turn around, he seemed to have just remembered something and reminded him in a low voice: "Old Duan, this old fellow Wei Zheng never cares about military affairs. I, the Flying Tiger General, didn't even know that Duan Dadan went to the West Market to sell horses. How did he know about it?"

"I suspect someone is looking for trouble with your Duan family and wants to kill Duan Ping. If you have the energy, why don't you check and find out who has a grudge against your Duan family and is stabbing you in the back so that you can avenge Duan Ping!"

"Moreover, this person actually set up this trap and caused such a big commotion. He might even ask my father to come over. If the emperor comes later, given his temper, he might be so angry that he would immediately execute Duan Ping. In that case, Duan Ping wouldn't even have the chance to till the fields and save seeds."

After applying eye drops to Li Ke and creating another mortal enemy, Li Yan turned and left.

Duan Tong fell into deep thought, perhaps because he was extremely disappointed with Duan Ping, or perhaps because the Duan family's incense had declined, he forgot to argue anymore. The arm that was pulling Li Yan's arm slipped weakly, and his expression became hesitant. His face turned red and white, and the sadness in his eyes slowly turned into hatred. He gritted his teeth and stared at Wei Zheng.

Li Yan returned to the case, picked up the token and said firmly: "Duan Ping violated military regulations and should be executed immediately to set an example."

"But this general, considering that General Duan has devoted his life to the country and that four of the Duan family members died on the battlefield, will give Duan Ping five days to go home and say goodbye to his parents. Five days later, he will be required to follow military law in front of all the soldiers at the Flying Tiger Army camp."

After finishing speaking, Li Yan looked at Wei Zheng, who looked even more unhappy, and said with a heavy expression: "Sir Wei, Duan Ping violated military regulations and should be executed. However, there is still humanity besides law. Even if it is the death row prisoners in prison, they should be given a full meal before being executed."

"The Duan family is a family of loyal warriors. Duan Ping, one of his elder brothers, has borrowed one day of his life for him. In addition, General Duan, I will give him five days. Is this not against the laws of the court and the regulations of the military camp?"

Li Yan's words made all the generals in the tent feel a little sad. Thinking of this, looking at Duan Tong with white hair and a sad face, they all knelt down and pleaded: "Your Highness is kind and righteous, we are convinced."

"Master Wei, please give Duan Ping five days to say goodbye to his mother at home."

Although he achieved his goal, Wei Zheng felt a little depressed at this time. The prince's hesitation and overly kind-heartedness still left a mark on Wei Zheng's mind. He hoped that the prince would make a decisive decision immediately and deal with Duan Ping decisively.

Instead of making such a decision after secretly discussing it with Duan Tong, it does not show the decisiveness and courage of a general at all.

Wei Zheng didn't care about Duan Ping's life or death. What he valued was the qualities of a future emperor.

Seeing that Duan Tong stopped arguing, and that military law was ruthless but human kindness was present, all the generals in the tent pleaded for Duan Ping, and that they only gave him a few days' grace period, Wei Zheng was not a heartless person, so he folded his hands and said, "Your Highness is wise, I have nothing to say."

At this moment, a loud shout came from outside the tent: "The Emperor has arrived."

Duan Tong was suddenly startled and looked at Li Yan with concern.

At this moment, the big tent was opened, and Li Shimin, with an angry face, rushed in with Ma Xuanliang and several guards.

Everyone knelt down to pay their respects. Li Shimin glanced around and saw the discarded long sword and the bound Duan Ping on the ground. He looked at him with disgust and then turned his gaze back to Wei Zheng and Duan Tong: "Why, are you going to the fair?"

"This is the Flying Tiger Army's main tent, a strategic location for military operations."

"Listen carefully, everyone. From today on, no one can step into this tent without my order. General Feihu has the final say on the affairs of the Flying Tiger Army."

"General Feihu, please handle the military affairs."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he stood aside with a dignified look on his face, as if he was here to personally take charge and see who dared to mess around.

Li Yan quickly explained, "Father, Duan Ping was caught reselling military horses by Lord Wei in the West Market. He sent Duan Ping to the Flying Tiger Army to be punished. When General Duan Tong found out, he also came to plead guilty. I am handling the case now!"

"Oh, Duan Tong is here to ask for forgiveness as well?"

Li Shimin looked at Duan Tong in surprise. This was unlike the Duan Tong he knew. He should come here to beg for mercy?

Li Yan made a face, and Duan Tong said quickly: "Yes, Your Majesty, I didn't teach my son well, and a scum like Duan Ping was born, disrupting military rules. Your Highness the Crown Prince enforces the law impartially and sentences Duan Ping to death according to Tang law. I have nothing to say. I just hope that the soldiers of the Flying Tiger Army will take Duan Ping as a warning and strictly abide by military rules."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin was shocked. He knew that Duan Ping made mistakes repeatedly. Every time, Duan Tong would come to him to plead for mercy with tears. Just now, the King of Shu informed Li Shimin in the palace that Duan Ping gambled in the military camp and then openly resold war horses. He was caught by Wei Zheng and reported to the Flying Tiger Army.

Li Shimin was afraid that the prince was too soft-hearted to impress the crowd, so he came here to kill Duan Ping, so as not to affect the prestige of the prince. But unexpectedly, Duan Tong stopped arguing, and when he looked at Wei Zheng beside him, he also bowed his head in submission and did not complain again, so he asked Li Yan: "How did you judge?"

Li Yan said, "Father, Duan Ping violated the law and should be executed. There is nothing to say. General Duan Tong also means the same thing."

"But I, your son, have inherited the benevolence of your father. I am concerned about the loyalty and bravery of the Duan family. General Duan's four sons died for their country in the battle at Bianqiao. If Duan Ping dies, the Duan family will be cut off from the incense. I cannot bear it. So I sentence Duan Ping to death, and the execution will be carried out in five days."

"In the next five days, let Duan Ping go home and say goodbye to his mother, so as to fulfill his filial duty. Lord Wei and the generals in the tent have no objection, please understand, father."

When Li Shimin heard this, he understood what Li Yan meant. These five days were for Duan Ping to return home and leave offspring.

Turning around and looking at Duan Tong, who was kneeling on the ground in grief with tears streaming down his face and white hair flying everywhere, his expression relaxed. He thought that all aspects had been taken into consideration, not only complying with military laws, but also preserving the relationship between himself and Duan Tong as a monarch and his subject.

Li Shimin looked at Li Yan approvingly, then walked down the steps, reached out his hand to help Duan Tong up, and comforted him: "As the Flying Tiger General, the prince strictly abides by military regulations, but he is helpless. Duan Tong, don't blame him?"

"I dare not. Your Highness the Crown Prince is a man of love and righteousness. He has shown special care for me. It is because I spoiled Duan Ping too much that he committed such a serious crime. The Emperor has shown consideration for the contributions of me and my four sons and has pardoned them many times. It is all his own fault. I do not blame anyone."

Seeing that Duan Tong was very sensible and did not make things difficult for him, the scabbard on Duan Tong's waist and the long sword on the ground, plus the presence of Wei Zheng, a loyal minister who would not tolerate any injustice, showed that this passionate old man must have caused a scene in the tent before.

However, since the prince had been dealt with, Duan Tong and Wei Zheng didn't say anything, so Li Shimin pretended not to see it and didn't make any more trouble.

Li Shimin turned around and angrily scolded Li Yan: "As the Flying Tiger General, you are guilty of something like this in the military camp. You still don't control everyone properly. If something like this happens again next time, I will never forgive you."

"Yes, your son obeys your order!" Li Yan responded with a respectful look on his face, but he did not agree in his heart.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Li Shimin pulled Duan Tong, who looked very sad, out of the tent. Wei Zheng looked at Li Yan with complicated eyes, sighed, and turned away.

After Wei Zheng returned to his mansion, he began to handle official business with great concern!
As usual, the housekeeper Bian Siqu waited on the side and assisted Wei Zheng in his work. After reading several documents from the Censorate.

Bian Si saw Wei Zheng was absent-minded and absent-minded. He guessed that it was related to what happened in the afternoon, so he asked tentatively: "Sir, I heard that you forced the Crown Prince to sentence Duan Tong's son Duan Dadan to death today?"

"Oh, you stay in the mansion all day long, but you are so well-informed and found out so quickly." Wei Zheng simply put down the documents and started chatting with Si Qu to relieve the pent-up emotions in his heart because he couldn't concentrate.

The master and servant have been together for many years and have already developed a deep trust and tacit understanding. In Wei Zheng's eyes, Siqu is not only his housekeeper, but also his old friend.

When he was under the command of Prince Yin, Siqu joined him. Over the years, he worked diligently and conscientiously. Along the way, from Li Jiancheng to Li Shimin, if there was one person who knew him best, it would be Siqu.

Bian Siqu said with a worried look on his face: "Sir, I'm afraid that the whole Chang'an City has spread the news that you are fair and selfless, born with a heart of steel, and enforce the law without prejudice to the powerful. Even an old general like Duan Tong is not afraid of you at all."

"It's just that this time you not only offended Duan Tong, but also the Crown Prince. You said you were not afraid of the Crown Prince's jealousy, but the Crown Prince will be the Emperor in the future. Don't you think about your own future?"

"Iron courage, where is the iron courage?"

When Wei Zheng heard this, a bitter smile appeared on his face: "I would rather let him hate me now than let him become emperor in the future and the people of the world hate him."

Wei Zheng did not take the offense against Duan Tong seriously. Today in the Flying Tiger Army's tent, Wei Zheng also saw that Duan Tong was timid and pretentious. Wei Zheng had been in officialdom for a long time, so how could he not know that no matter how bold Duan Tong was, he would not dare to kill him, a senior official of the court.

So most of what was done was done for the prince to see, in order to put pressure on him and save his son's life.

The prince finally arrested Duan Tong and sentenced Duan Dadan to death. However, the prince's indecision and hesitation left a deep impression on the ministers in the tent. It was said that Duan Dadan had gambled in the military camp before and had not been punished, which led to this situation.

Although Wei Zheng seldom inquired about military affairs, he still knew something about the chaos in the Flying Tiger Army. Even he, a minister living deep in the palace, had heard about it, so one could imagine what others were feeling. In addition, what he saw in the Flying Tiger Army today made Wei Zheng even more worried.

He would rather the crown prince be a ruthless person like Li Shimin than to see one with a weak character who was bullied by others. The world is far from stable, and such a kind or cowardly crown prince is definitely not a blessing for the country!
Wei Zheng's concern was not about his own future, but about the world.
The two were chatting in the study when suddenly the old servant from the front yard came in slowly, holding a letter in his hand: "Master, butler, someone knocked on the door just now. I opened the door but didn't see anyone. I only found this letter at the door. Please take a look."

Siqu quickly stood up and took it. He glanced at it and saw that it was written: "From Wei Zheng, the Imperial Clerk."

So he didn't dare open it and handed the letter to Wei Zheng.

(End of this chapter)