Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 130: Old House: This Family Will Break Up Without Me
The Liangyi Hall was completely silent, and the ministers didn't even dare to breathe.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon couch, pointing at Wei Zheng with a ferocious look on his face.

“You! You…ha, haha.

"You."

His expression changed smoothly, looking helpless:
"Did you also believe the rumors? Something like 'The prince was kidnapped on the way and became a bandit leader when he returned'? Have you read too many Chang'an Express?
"Who would give up being a prince and become a bandit?"

This is indeed something that "that" prince can do... The ministers did not dare to say anything more, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Wei Zheng with some resentment.

Your Majesty has given you a way out, so please step down quickly.

Wei Zheng stared at His Majesty's relaxed expression for a long time, sighed with pity, then his face hardened and he raised the corners of his mouth awkwardly:

"Since they are just a group of ordinary bandits, there is no need to delay. Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible and order Li Shiji, the Grand Commander of Bingzhou..."

"How can we suppress the civil unrest at will? We should focus on appeasement." Li Shimin interrupted him impatiently:
“Besides, my son, as well as the children and grandchildren of you gentlemen, are being held hostage by the bandits.

"Are you going to kill them?"

Is there a hostage who has sneaked into the bandit leader... The faces of the ministers in the court changed slightly, but no one dared to say it directly.

The country's express postal services were now concentrated in Liaodong, so communications with Pingzhou suddenly became smooth, with the shortest delay being "only" eight or nine days.

Therefore, everyone already has some understanding of Pingzhou's recent situation ten years ago.

When a bandit looks like Li Ming, moves like Li Ming, acts like Li Ming, and distributes leaflets like Li Ming.

But Your Majesty said it was not the case.

Then he is not Li Ming.

Your Majesty is now thinking about the good things about the Liaodong Jiedushi, Wei Xuancheng, you'd better keep quiet for a while... Colleagues murmured in their hearts.

Your Majesty has already brought up the issue of "the prince's safety". If this is taken down, no one will be better off.

Wei Zheng straightened his back, lowered his head, and spoke aloud word by word:

"I don't know the safety of anyone's descendants. I only know that the country is in danger!"

The ministers took a deep breath and lowered their heads.

He even looked down on the imperial family and nobles. Only Wei Zheng dared to do such a thing.

Li Shimin only felt his temples throbbing, and every throbbing was like his brain being stirred, making him feel both painful and annoyed, and he felt a nameless anger rising in his heart.

However, he gritted his teeth and endured it, his face only turned a little red, but he did not show any anger.

The channels of communication must not be cut off. This was what Empress Changsun repeatedly reminded him before her death, and he really took it to heart.

Wei Zheng pretended not to notice the change in His Majesty's mood and continued to talk to himself:

“The bandits in Pingzhou are no longer bandits.

"They have brought the fields and villages under their control, appointing officials, collecting taxes, and training soldiers, just like a small court.

“Moreover, this imperial court is completely different from the Tang Dynasty and is incompatible with it!
"Let's not talk about the fact that the official system of that small court is completely different from that of the Great Tang. As for the taxation method alone, they abandoned the household-based rent and labor service system and instead levied taxes in proportion to the output of the land."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the dignitaries could not help but talk about it.

The potential meaning of paying taxes based on a certain percentage of the land's output is:
The bigger the land, the more taxes you pay!

This was truly a loss for the officials who owned large amounts of land and were already big landlords.

"Oh? Taxes are collected on a proportional basis?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows, with an expression that showed a little bit of pride for some reason, but he quickly concealed it.

Because the rent, labor and tax was essentially a poll tax that treated poor peasants and landlords equally, it was not only not conducive to equalizing the rich and the poor, but also led to a strong urge among the people to conceal their population.

Didn't Li Shimin know the disadvantages of the head tax? He knew it very well.

So why is it still levied like this?
Because of convenience.

Counting heads is much simpler than counting fields and properties.

The Tang Dynasty did not have so many officials in the countryside, so it could only compromise in this way.

If taxation based mainly on land property is implemented, local tyrants and landlords will have more room to manipulate.

Now they can bribe tax collectors and conceal the population.

Could they also bribe the tax collectors and conceal their land properties?
In fact, from ancient times to the present, no dynasty has been able to start from the grassroots and control the vast rural areas.

It is said that imperial power does not extend below the county level, and only clans exist below the county level.

But Li Ming... bah, the Red Scarf Bandit, solved these two obstacles at the same time -

It not only employed a large number of grassroots clerks, but also physically solved the problem of local tyrants and landlords.

The tax base was suddenly broadened, and the gap between the rich and the poor could be curbed to a certain extent.

You’re good, little brat… Li Shimin nodded slightly, and felt his headache was a little better.

"Your Majesty." Wei Zheng pulled Li Shimin back to his senses:

"Those bandits not only implemented their own completely different system, but also pacified the people, reclaimed wasteland, treated prisoners well, built roads and water conservancy projects, and managed the impoverished areas of Yanshan in an orderly manner..."

"Ha, just average, not that great." Li Shimin waved his hand.

Why are you being so modest... Wei Zheng was stunned, sorted out his thoughts, and asked:
"Your Majesty, don't these bandits remind you of an old friend?"

"Who?"

"Hebei Dou Jiande."

Dou Jiande was the leader of a peasant uprising that caused great trouble to the Li Tang dynasty during the great chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

King Dou Jiande of Xia was born into a commoner family. When he ruled Hebei, he also ruled with leniency and benevolence, and was deeply loved by the people.

To this day, the aftermath of Dou Jiande's crimes has not subsided, and the Xia King Temple is still worshipped and venerated in the countryside of Hebei, and has become the spiritual banner of Hebei's anti-Tang movement.

"If they were just a bunch of bandits who stole chickens and dogs and robbed houses, then there would be no need to worry too much.

"But if they are bandits who establish a regime and appease the people, then they are not bandits—"

Wei Zheng's voice weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone present:
"But the rebels."

The ministers' faces turned solemn and their breathing suddenly became heavy.

"The rebels in Pingzhou are fierce and have good governance strategies. Their ambition is definitely not to rob a little property or occupy one or two hilltops—"

The sonorous and powerful voice of veteran minister Wei Zheng echoed in Liangyi Hall.

"Instead, they want to establish their own regime and occupy Liaodong, or...

"Aiming at the world."

Li Shimin's throat gurgled unconsciously.

How could he not know in his heart the truth that Wei Zheng was talking about?
I just don't want to admit it.

However, if this is indeed the case, is there any use burying your head in the sand?
Li Shimin was extremely conflicted.

Proud? Angry? Disappointed? Empty?
My head hurts again...

"Don't think you can stay out of this just because Liaodong is far away or your children and grandchildren are not among the rebels."

Wei Zheng said to his colleagues in the court in an unceremonious but irrefutable way:

"Don't forget where the land that the Red Turban Army distributed to the peasants for cultivation came from."

All the ministers were silent.

Land cannot fall from the sky, and it is impossible to reclaim much wasteland in the mountains in just two months.

It just transfers from one person to another.

The ministers of the Tang Dynasty were also the big landlords of the Tang Dynasty.

If collecting taxes based on land ownership is like cutting flesh.

Then beating the local tyrants and dividing their land is undoubtedly a blow to the lungs.

Their position immediately became extremely firm and they stood on the side of suppressing the rebellion.

Just when all the ministers were united in hatred of the enemy, Fang Xuanling calmly reported:

"Mr. Wei thinks that the Liaodong bandits are similar to Dou Jiande. Doesn't this just prove that we should mainly use appeasement and deterrence instead of attacking them with force?" The ministers were stunned, and then they understood Fang Pushe's logic.

After Dou Jiande was defeated and killed, Hebei, which he originally occupied, immediately became chaotic, adding a lot of trouble to the Li Tang Dynasty.

It can be said that a considerable part of Hebei’s dissatisfaction with Guanzhong stems from the strong suppression of Dou Jiande.

Wei Zheng frowned.

He just used Dou Jiande as an example, but Fang Xuanling grabbed his whip and made a specious argument.

"Times have changed, how can we still look for swords on a boat?" He immediately retorted:

"Is it because your son is also among the rebels that you misinterpreted my meaning, and your selfishness has overshadowed your public morality, making it impossible for you to think completely from the perspective of the Tang Dynasty?"

Facing the emperor with full fire, and facing the prime ministers of different parties, Wei Zheng had no need to save face and directly pointed out Fang Xuanling's weak points.

However, Fang Xuanling had no reaction and even wanted to laugh.

Just when Wei Zheng was wondering, an unexpected person stood up and sternly refuted him.

"Mr. Xuancheng." Changsun Wuji's face turned pale.
"You have repeatedly contradicted His Majesty, seemingly just for the sake of giving advice.

"Don't you make suggestions for the sake of the country and the people? Are you just trying to gain a reputation as someone who dares to give advice?"

After all, he was an old boss, and he hit Wei Zheng directly in the sore spot.

Being an upright official and deceiving the tyrant in court has always been the way for civil officials to leave their names in history.

It would be unfair to say that Wei Zheng really had no idea about this.

After Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, two pillars of the court, expressed their opinions at the same time, the originally united group of ministers began to loosen up and started to criticize Wei Zheng for making groundless accusations.

Wei Zheng did not refute any more, but just kept his back straight and head down.

Li Shimin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand:

"No matter if he is right or wrong, Wei Xuancheng is dedicated to the public good. You must not be rude to him."

The emperor personally acted as a peacemaker and the issue was resolved.

Then everyone happily impeached Hou Junji and Wei Daijia who refused to leave Pingzhou.

…………

"Kongtu, wait a minute." After the court meeting, Fang Xuanling smiled and bowed to Changsun Wuji to say goodbye.

Kongtu is a popular nickname for the official title "Da Sikong". However, coming from the mouth of the prime minister of the same dynasty, it inexplicably carries a hint of ridicule.

Changsun Wuji's head was bulging with veins, and he snorted angrily, pretending not to see it.

Fang Xuanling walked out of the palace with brisk steps and got into the carriage.

In the empty carriage, he tapped the windowsill anxiously and sighed softly.

"What are you doing, young prince? It's not a good idea to keep dragging it out like this."

A few days after his eldest son and his eldest master were kidnapped by bandits, he received a package sent to him by Hou Junji from Pingzhou.

Are they three leaflets from bandits, familiar clickbait titles, or the familiar handwriting of three missing young masters?

Fang Xuanling understood immediately and realized that his eldest son Fang Yize was not in trouble, but had followed the young master, His Highness Li Ming, to the mountain to rebel.

He didn't know what the intentions of these naughty kids were, but that didn't stop him from covering for them in the court, muddying the waters and throwing smoke bombs.

The basic principle of muddying the waters is that if you accidentally catch shit, you should spread it everywhere.

Fang Xuanling immediately delivered the leaflet copied by Changsun Yan to Changsun's residence.

Then, he won over an odd and powerful teammate.

The two pillars of the court and relatives of traitors stirred up evil winds in the court and wantonly suppressed the righteous ministers who were concerned about the country and the people.

Impeach Hou Junji and Wei Daijia for disobeying the imperial order?
Rejected, Pingzhou was plagued by bandits and the state government was not functioning smoothly, which led to the two not receiving the imperial edict. Look, aren't they still reporting the situation to the court every day? If this isn't a loyal minister, what is it?
Demand a heavy blow against the bandits?
Absurd, the bandit problem in Pingzhou is not serious, the main thing is to appease it. Do you want the prince to be killed?
Request the court to immediately organize an investigation and go to Pingzhou to verify on the spot?

Yes, but you have to follow the procedures and draw personnel from various departments to ensure that the whole process is fair, just and open. You can go back and wait for news.

In this way, with the secret support of the emperor and the traitor's family, the two treacherous ministers stirred up trouble and concealed the bandit problem in Pingzhou for more than a month.

Now, it’s a bit hard to cover up.

If we keep hiding this, Yingzhou next door will also get anxious.

"What on earth are you doing, Your Highness? Why can't you discuss this with His Majesty in person instead of going up into the mountains and becoming a bandit..."

Fang Xuanling thought hard but to no avail, so he casually tore off a piece of silk, quickly wrote a few words, put it in a brocade bag, and knocked on the car door.

"Husband?" The butler poked his head in.

"Go to Pingzhou and personally hand this item to Hou Junji, and tell him this." Fang Xuanling looked at the sky outside the car window and said word by word:
"'Pass the brocade bag to His Highness. If you are in trouble, open it.'"

The butler nodded heavily.

Fang Xuanling looked at the butler's back and prayed silently:

"Minister Hou, before you receive my magic bag, don't rush to join the group..."

…………

Pingzhou, Wuli Township.

After a thrilling battle, a large number of prisoners were brought in.

The strategy of clearing the countryside and luring the enemy into a trap in each village undoubtedly achieved great success.

The rebel army achieved the greatest victory so far, smashed the enemy's key offensive, and broke the arrogant attempt of Murong Yan's reactionary group to gradually encroach on the country.

The battle went smoothly for the most part, but in a siege battle in a certain village, the rebels encountered unprecedented resistance and suffered heavy losses.

"I've never seen these enemies fight in a way that I've never seen before. They fight very tenaciously and fiercely."

Yuchi Xunyu took Li Mingqing to count the results of the battle, while chattering non-stop:

"They were stuck in a mud pit, under fire, and surrounded by ten times their number. They should have surrendered long ago.

"But instead of surrendering, the enemy even dared to fight back against our army! We almost let them escape!"

Li Ming nodded seriously, thinking to himself that something was wrong.

Pingzhou did not have a military governor's office, and because the registered population was sparse, there was no Zhechoufu either, and there were not many regular Tang troops stationed there.

Most of them were conscripted soldiers who were recruited into the army every time there was a war and discarded after being used. They were essentially servants dressed in the guise of Tang army, and their combat effectiveness was far inferior to that of the regular government army.

Therefore, the Red Turban Army could ravage them at will.

However, judging from Yuchi Xunyu's narration...

Oh no, this time it’s real.

The two men approached the open space where the prisoners were temporarily kept, and heard suppressed growls from time to time.

The prisoners were covered in blood and wounds, and the barefoot doctors were using Ming's treatment method to stop the bleeding, disinfect and bandage them.

Li Ming couldn't help but shrug his nose and frown.

At this time, a majestic roar came from not far away.

"Kill me now! Hu Buli!"

When the rebel guards heard this, they were all terrified.

It's bad, the hero has been caught...

Li Ming's mouth twitched:
"Who did you catch?"

"He's the leader of that group of desperate criminals! He's the one who commanded Murong Yan's minions to put up a desperate resistance!"

Yuchi Xunyu was very proud and pointed in the direction where the roar came from:
"Look!"

This was also the first time that the little black charcoal-head observed the enemy commander who was "fighting stubbornly" up close, and he took a look at him by the way.

One glance for thousands of years.

His body suddenly trembled.

(End of this chapter)