Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 134 How could it be him? The King of Qi? !

Chapter 134 How could it be him? The King of Qi? !
The first month of the fifteenth year of Zhenguan.

"Alas, my territory is so miserable. It's too hot in summer and too cold in winter. There are either too few people in the mountains and it's too deserted, or too many people to support. My people can only eat northwest wind every day, and there is no grass to eat in winter..."

Pingzhou, Wuli Township.

Comrade Li Ming cordially received the visiting Minister of Personnel Hou Junji and the Governor of two states Wei Daijia, introduced the construction achievements of Jiefang District, and exchanged experiences on grassroots governance.

While inspecting the situation in Wuli Township, Hou and Wei listened to the leader's speech in silence.

What they see and hear cannot be said to be completely irrelevant, but it can also be said to be completely irrelevant.

There is a kind of annoying feeling that the sound and picture are not synchronized.

The conditions in the mountains are indeed difficult and there is no savings.

But under Li Mingzhi, the peasants were basically free from famine.

It may not be that everyone had a rosy complexion and adequate nutrition, but at least everyone had corn and wheat rice to fill their stomachs, and paper clothes and cotton woolen clothes to keep warm.

There was not a single starving person on the way up the mountain.

You know, even in the wealthy areas of Guanzhong and Jingji, many people cannot survive every winter.

Even the robbers and thieves who robbed people along the way have disappeared.

It's somewhat humorous that there are no bandits in the bandit-controlled area.

What amazed the two men the most was the mental outlook of these villagers.

They are completely free from the numbness of the rural areas. They are full of fighting spirit, enthusiastic in everything they do, full of a sense of mission, and inexplicably have a positive and infectious energy.

This reminded them of a word:

A people of tigers and wolves.

Li Ming is a very capable section chief.

"Your Highness." Wei Daijia reminded, "There are no outsiders here."

Let's be frank.

"Oh."

Only then did Li Ming stop his shameless complaints:

"After returning to the capital, you must cooperate with me in complaining in the court, so as to scare away those officials and make them afraid to come to Liaodong to take up their posts. By the way, ask for more money, grain, salt and iron."

Hou Junji and Wei Daijia looked at each other.

Although after several months of hard work, His Highness has become more mature.

But deep down, he is still the little devil with a face as thick as a city wall.

"Speaking of the court," Wei Daijia asked:
"Since you are free to move, why don't you contact us and expose the fact that Murong Yan killed Liu Xin?"

Speaking of this, Li Ming got angry:

“I don’t have a bird’s-eye view, and I don’t know whether you are alive, dead, or being held hostage.

"What if I say something wrong and spread the message and cause you to get killed?
"Who knew Murong Yan could be so patient and let you live freely in the state capital for several months!"

The master was reading "Farming Life from Zero", but the retainer was reading "The Daily Life of a Civil Servant", which made him so angry that he blurted out several unfamiliar words that people didn't quite understand.

"It's over, let's not talk about it."

Hou Junji rubbed his temples:
"Your Highness can choose not to contact us, but why not inform His Majesty of such a big thing?"

This problem not only troubled the two of them, but also puzzled Fang Xuanling who was thousands of miles away.

Why hide in the mountains and fight guerrilla warfare instead of using the foreign aid that could turn the tide in an instant?
Don’t say that the letter can’t be sent.

Pingzhou was not surrounded by Murong Yan. Yanshan was so large that it was possible to find a gap with some effort and communicate with Youzhou and Yingzhou.

Li Ming pondered for a while and did not answer directly. Instead, he turned to the bustling village community.

"Look, are my people strong?"

Didn’t you just say that there was not even grass to chew… Wei Daijia suppressed his desire to complain and made an objective assessment:
"Although he is still a little thin, his will is far superior to that of Lulong Linyu, and is not inferior to the good children of Guanzhong."

Li Ming pointed to the Red Scarf Army that was training with Xue Wanche:
“Is my army powerful?”

Hou Junji nodded:

"good--

"But what does that matter?"

Li Ming turned around and looked at the two of them:

"Do you know what the key points are of the two questions just now?"

The two looked at each other:

"Mighty and majestic?"

"No, it's 'mine'!" Li Ming clenched his fists:
“The people, the system, and the army here were not given by others. I built them up piece by piece from scratch!
"I have led them step by step to where they are today. The people's hearts are with me, and no one can take them away!"

Hou Junji curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty can't do it either?"

"Even if the Jade Emperor comes, it won't work!" Li Ming almost roared in a low voice.

"What will happen if I report Murong Yan's rebellion to the court?
"The heavenly soldiers came down from the sky, wiped out the rebels in an instant, and helped the crying child back to the throne.

"In this way, Taiping is peaceful. But do the people of Pingzhou recognize me? Do the bureaucrats of Pingzhou recognize me? Do the military leaders of Yingzhou next door recognize me?"

Wei Daijia was shocked by this answer.

He always felt that behind this seemingly reasonable reason, there was a serious idea hidden.

"I can't see what the emperor's plan for Liaodong is?"

Li Ming gave a bitter smile.

To his own people, he never disdains to hide anything and speaks his mind directly:
"On the one hand, the imperial court still holds the power over personnel in Pingzhou and Yingzhou. On the other hand, Yingzhou is also home to a military governor's office that bypasses me and is directly under the imperial court.

“When the emperor is happy, he can lend me Liaodong for fun. When the emperor is unhappy, he can take it back at any time.

"Is Liaodong still mine? What's the difference between me and other feudal lords, other than the different titles?"

Wei Daijia wondered if this young master was a little crazy.

"The whole world belongs to your majesty. You can take whatever you want and give whatever you want. Your Highness, are you worried that your majesty will harm you?"

He didn't understand Li Ming's idea. Why was he so obsessed with "independently controlling" a piece of fiefdom?

But Hou Junji keenly noticed the change in Li Ming's word choice:

From father to emperor.

Li Ming sighed:

"Just think of me as being neurotic."

Li Shimin did treat him well.

But just like the beginning of the story, his problem was never with Li Shimin.

But it is because there is “no” Li Shimin.

The question is how the new emperor will deal with him after Li Shimin's death.

If the Pingzhou rebellion was quelled by the imperial court

Then what Pingzhou strengthened was not Li Ming's authority, but the imperial power.

During the reign of Li Shimin, everyone was still one family.

But after Li Shimin, his three brothers, each with their own ulterior motives, came to power. If they sent an imperial edict to Pingzhou to have him executed,

Just like Li Ming in history, who was forced to death by his deputy according to Wu Zetian's edict——

Will the people of Pingzhou and the bureaucrats of Pingzhou rise up in resistance for him?
It was still the same old question that he had been thinking about since the first day he crossed over:
How to avoid the reckoning after Li Shimin’s death?
In the past, he escaped from the royal family and was demoted to a commoner.

Now I am marking a safe zone for myself.

And after the baptism of blood and fire, Pingzhou became his safe zone.

The villagers, officials, plants and trees here are all “our own people” just like Hou Junji and Wei Daijia.

"Murong Yan is truly a rare and great opponent, constantly pushing people's hearts and land towards me."

Li Ming teased sarcastically:
"How could I bear to summon the heavenly soldiers and let him die too early?"

Wei Daijia still finds it hard to accept:
"But how many people died because of your interference in the riot, which could have been quickly quelled?"

Li Ming shook his head:
“If the imperial court takes action, then after getting rid of Murong Yan, there will be Tuoba Yan, Yuwen Yan, Dugu Yan… There will always be landlords riding on the heads of the people, making it impossible for them to turn over.

“And nowadays, there are no landlords.”

The reforms in Pingzhou were so thorough that they went deep into the ground.

Whether from the economic foundation or from the organizational structure and spiritual construction.

“Some blood must be shed.

"If we shed more now, our children and grandchildren will shed less."

Wei Daijia was speechless.

He didn't know what "thorough reform" meant, but he had a rough idea of what His Highness meant by "an extraordinary idea".

Treason!
It was not the Tang Dynasty that was rebelling.

It was something more subtle, indefinable, yet deeply rooted in his and everyone else's blood.

Hou Junji felt much better.

He was in no mood for philosophical speculation.

He also spoke frankly:
"Your Highness, are you planning a rebellion?"

Li Ming was stunned:
"That's not true."

Although I am a separatist and I fight against local tyrants, I am still a loyal subject of the Tang Dynasty.

"Then you'd better send a message to His Majesty."

Hou Junji looked at this little brother who stayed in the mountains all day and was obviously not well-informed:

"Because the court probably thinks you are rebelling."…………

First month of the year, Chang'an.

Facts have proved that compared with Li Ming on Mars, Hou Junji and Wei Daijia, who have only been able to have one-way contact with Chang'an, are not much more well-informed.

Chang'an was probably thinking that Li Ming was rebelling.

Instead, they were already discussing how to deal with these three rebels after wiping out the Red Turban bandits.

In the Imperial City Government Office, officials were whispering to each other.

"Has your majesty issued an order to send troops to suppress the bandits?"

"Not yet. Minister Wei died suddenly, and Your Majesty was so sad that he has not attended court for several days."

"That's not right! Your Majesty approved the memorial for disaster relief when Ezhou suffered a snowstorm. Why did he use illness as an excuse to not approve the matter of suppressing the bandits?"

"Alas, the will of God is unpredictable, the will of God is unpredictable."

In Tai Chi Palace.

The emperor cried so much for his loyal minister Wei Zheng that he nearly fainted. After waking up, he lost his appetite for several days, which made all the palace servants very anxious.

"Your Majesty still doesn't want to eat the freshly stewed bird's nest?" The eunuch looked at the hot bowl in the palace maid's hand, and the top-quality bird's nest and abalone were untouched.

The maid felt very aggrieved:

"Your Majesty has locked himself in his study and won't even let us in!"

"Alas..." The eunuch stamped his feet, almost dying of anxiety:
"Your Majesty has just recovered from a serious illness but is unwilling to take supplements. He only eats rice porridge and vegetables all day to fill his stomach. How can this be allowed? Your body will collapse!"

…………

Lizheng Hall, study.

Li Shimin leaned against the stove, wearing a fur coat, and carefully read the Pingzhou intelligence from the first day word by word.

After learning the news of Wei Zheng's death, he cried bitterly, and because he was too tired, he fell asleep after crying.

In the following days, he had no appetite. The smell of the mutton, cheese and other foods he usually ate made him feel nauseous, and he could only eat simple meals.

After passively adhering to a light diet for ten days, he suddenly discovered.

The headache and dizziness that had troubled me for a long time suddenly eased a lot.

He doesn't know anything about theories like the three highs or blood pressure control.

But with this force, he sorted out the affairs of Pingzhou over and over again.

Objectively speaking, among the eleven living princes, who is the most rebellious?

The youngest Li Ming deserves it.

That kid always felt that "someone wanted to harm me". Ever since he could speak, he had been clamoring to leave the royal family. His behavior was unorthodox, and his intention to monopolize Liaodong and establish his own regime was obvious.

However, Li Shimin felt that he was different from his father, Emperor Li Yuan, and his beloved sons would never betray him.

Well, including the most unstable Li Ming, he must love him too.

Therefore, he still felt that there was something fishy about Li Ming's becoming a bandit and colluding with Goguryeo to rebel.

Before, he was tortured by a headache and his consciousness was blurred, but he still subconsciously delayed the court meeting and secretly covered for his son.

And now, he can think about the whole story more calmly.

"Hou Junji's report and Zhang Liang's intelligence can corroborate each other. They are still credible at this stage."

He repeatedly compared the texts on both sides, muttering to himself:

"The problem is, after Hou Junji disappeared..."

Zhang Liang was the only main source of information for him and the court.

One-sided statements are risky.

At that time, Li Shimin, bearing the headache and the grief of Wei Zheng's recent death, made a three-party insurance decision:
The governor of Yingzhou and the governor of Youzhou were ordered to lead troops into Pingzhou immediately to investigate the actual situation and report back.

Yang Shidao (who had nothing to do with Li Ming or Li Chengqian) set out for Pingzhou to replace Hou Junji and take over the emperor's office as governor of Pingzhou.
Looking at Li Shiji, prepare to march.

However, this brings us back to the old question -

The imperial edict was conveyed to Youzhou and Yingzhou, and their information was then sent back to Chang'an. It took about fifteen to twenty days just to deliver the letter.

In addition, it will take time for the alternate officials to rush to Pingzhou and investigate the situation...

It is considered amazing to be able to establish a third-party information channel within a month.

And in this most critical month, the people of Chang'an could only rely on the one-sided words of Zhang Liang's "adopted sons".

It’s too far, Liaodong is really too far.

That place was already the limit of the ruling power of the Central Plains Dynasty, and everything seemed to be shrouded in fog...

"His Majesty."

Zhang Liang reported outside the door.

"come in."

Zhang Liang, the plain-looking Minister of Works and the head of the spies who was said to have five hundred "adopted sons", pushed the door open and walked in.

Seeing His Majesty sitting quietly at the table as he did in the past, he couldn't help but feel nervous again.

"I have a few questions for you about Pingzhou," Li Shimin said calmly.

"I will tell you everything I know." Zhang Liang replied calmly.

Li Shimin accurately picked out a document from the pile of books:
"You said that the fire in Pingzhou Prefecture was set by Hou Junji?"

"It was rare that Minister Hou left the prefecture early that day and went out of the city. After he left, a fire broke out in the prefecture, so we can infer this." Zhang Liang answered fluently.

Li Shimin remained silent:
"Hou Junji, everyone is gone, how could the fire be set?"

"It must be their accomplices in the city."

"Who is the accomplice?"

"It must be the Red Scarf Bandit."

"Did you catch anyone?"

"My adopted son's duty is to gather intelligence. If your majesty gives the order, I believe he will be arrested and brought to justice in no time."

Li Shimin waved his hand:
"That's not necessary. Where did you get this information about the Red Turban bandits colluding with Goguryeo?"

"Murong Yan, a country gentleman from Pingzhou. I wonder if Your Majesty still remembers that we borrowed troops from him when we conquered the Eastern Turks."

Zhang Liang calmly took credit for Murong Yan.

Li Shimin did not take up this topic and continued to ask:
"Hou Junji mentioned this in his first report. Are you copying it?"

Zhang Liangli replied:

"I dare not. My adopted son visited the people and found out that there is indeed such a rumor."

Li Shimin's eyes shone: "Have you ever thought that this rumor might have been deliberately spread by Murong Yan over the years?"

"This..." Zhang Liang lowered his head, "If we have time, I think we can investigate it clearly..."

"Have you witnessed the Red Turban bandits and the Goguryeo army cooperating or advancing and retreating together?"

"Uh……"

"The gate of Pingzhou was wide open. Was it the Red Turban bandits who opened the gate? Were the Tang armors worn by the Goguryeo army also given by the Red Turban bandits?"

"that……"

Li Shimin said with a half smile:

"Zhang Liang, I remember you once reported Hou Junji for treason."

Zhang Liang shook his head like a rattle:

"Everything I have done is just. I have no grudge against Minister Hou, and I have never made up any stories..."

"Why are you so anxious? I just remembered something from the past and wanted to tell you about it."

Li Shimin waved his hand with a smile:
"Go down."

After the sound of the spy's footsteps faded away, Li Shimin rang the bell.

The eunuch almost jumped in: "Your Majesty! You finally..."

Li Shimin interrupted him coldly:
"Call Li Junxian to me."

After a while, a general in a red robe and a crested crown came in:

"The general will pay homage to His Majesty."