Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 204: Journey to the West: The Legend of the Holy Monk [Seeking monthly votes]

Imperial Palace, Ganlu Hall.

Li Shimin flipped through the memorials on the table, then stood up from his seat, his hands behind his back, and said with emotion: "In the past few days, I have received many reports!"

Hearing this, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and others stood up from their seats, followed him and listened carefully.

"Some people say this locust plague is a wrath from heaven, a punishment from heaven for us humans."

"Some people say that there hasn't been such a locust plague in many years, and that we should seriously review our government.

"Some people are asking why there weren't so many disasters in previous years. Are they because they only occurred after I ascended the throne? I want me to issue a self-criticism edict!"

"hehe."

Speaking of this, Li Shimin couldn't help laughing.

But his laughter did not resonate with Fang Xuanling and others.

Because Fang Xuanling and others knew Li Shimin's temper, the more relaxed Li Shimin appeared, the angrier he was inside.

It was obvious that Li Shimin was very dissatisfied with these reports.

And these reports are still increasing every day, and it can even be said that they are overwhelming.

So why are there so many reports suddenly appearing?

It goes without saying that it must be related to the aristocratic family.

However, even if they knew that the aristocratic families were doing things behind their backs, they had no way to deal with them.

After all, the influence of aristocratic families in the local area is greater than that of the central court.

Therefore, after hearing Li Shimin's self-deprecating remarks, Fang Xuanling was the first to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, during the Han Dynasty, natural disasters like this were usually handled by the prime minister. Why don't you let me quell them?"

"Zhongshu Ling!"

Before Fang Xuanling could finish his words, Zhangsun Wuji interrupted him and said sternly, "The Crown Prince has already given us a solution. We just need to eliminate the locusts. Why are you doing this?"

"Furthermore, if you set a precedent like this, how will future prime ministers respond to disasters? Or, in other words, how should court officials respond to different disasters? For example, how big a disaster is associated with how high an official's rank?!"

"This"

Fang Xuanling was speechless and turned to look at Du Ruhui.

Du Ruhui said thoughtfully, "Although disasters have always been associated with governance, this cannot become an obstacle for us. The most important thing now is how to effectively advance the locust eradication campaign!"

"That's right!"

Li Shimin nodded in agreement and said, "Locusts are pests. We can eliminate them."

"Your Majesty!"

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, a voice came from outside the hall: "Sikong Pei Ji, Imperial Censor Wang Gui, General of the Left Jinwu Guard Hou Junji, Shangshu Zuo Chengqing, and Dali Temple Secretary Cui Renshi request an audience!"

Li Shimin was slightly stunned, then turned to look at Fang Xuanling and others.

They just looked at each other and shook their heads to indicate that they didn't know.

After a brief pause, he waved his hand and said, "Let them in!"

"promise!"

There was a response from outside the hall, and soon, Pei Ji and others entered the hall.

"I will see you, Your Majesty!"

"My lords, please forgive me and stay on your own terms!"

Li Shimin didn't waste time talking to them. He simply raised his hand to signal them not to be polite. Then he frowned and asked, "Why did you come to see me?"

"Your Majesty, someone is impersonating the Prince's Mansion and spreading rumors in the streets and alleys of Chang'an. Please investigate carefully!" Pei Ji spoke first.

Li Shimin glanced at him calmly, but ignored him. Then he set his eyes on Hou Junji and said calmly, "Hou Junji, tell me, what is going on?"

"Your Majesty, I have just received a report that someone in Chang'an City is spreading rumors and stirring up public opinion, confusing locusts with mosquitoes and flies, saying they are pests, and encouraging the people to eliminate locusts!" Hou Junji answered truthfully.

Lu Chengqing echoed, "Your Majesty! Even if this matter has nothing to do with the Crown Prince's Mansion, it involves the Crown Prince. I believe that a serious investigation should be conducted. Otherwise, the credibility of the court will be lost, and the reputation of the Crown Prince will be damaged!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! We are all thinking about the Crown Prince and the court!" Cui Renshi also echoed.

Seeing this, Li Shimin looked strange and turned to look at Fang Xuanling and others.

Fang Xuanling then said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty! I also believe this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated! We must dispel these rumors and clear the Crown Prince's name!"

Li Shimin was slightly surprised, as if he was doubting whether he had heard it wrongly.

Just now they were discussing how to eliminate locusts, but now someone is helping them promote the elimination of locusts, and this person is obviously Li Chengqian, so why do they still need to conduct a strict investigation?

Is there something strange about this?
Thinking of this, Li Shimin set his eyes on Zhangsun Wuji again, frowned and said, "Wuji, what do you think about this matter?"

"This"

Zhangsun Wuji hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Fang Xuanling and said thoughtfully, "I think the Minister of the Central Secretariat is right. We must not only investigate this matter thoroughly, but also prevent it from spreading to other prefectures and counties. We should immediately send people to investigate similar incidents in various prefectures and counties to prevent the people in these counties from misunderstanding the imperial decree and slandering the Crown Prince's reputation!"

Hearing this, Li Shimin felt increasingly strange, but on the surface he nodded thoughtfully and said, "Since all the ministers have come to advise us on this matter, I will have the Hundred Cavalry Division investigate it thoroughly!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Ji and others looked at each other and spoke in unison.

Soon, they said goodbye and left Ganlu Temple.

After watching them leave, Li Shimin looked at Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji with a puzzled expression and said, "What did you mean just now? Didn't you agree to eliminate the locusts?"

"Your Majesty, the two lords agree that we should exterminate the locusts, but the idea that locusts are divine insects has existed for hundreds of years. Even if we wanted to change this idea, it would be very difficult!"

Du Ruhui said with a smile.

"Then why are we investigating the talk about eradicating locusts? Aren't we going to eradicate locusts?" Li Shimin asked even more puzzled.

But then Changsun Wuji laughed and said, "Your Majesty, Cheng Qian has already taken action. Now is the time for us to cooperate with him!"

"How to cooperate?"

"Didn't I just say that? Send people to all the counties and prefectures to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but look at Zhangsun Wuji and said with a stern face, "What do you mean?"

"hehe."

Changsun Wuji smiled, then said meaningfully: "The meaning is very simple, it is to accomplish the greatest things with the least resistance!"

"Your Majesty, please think about this: if we, under your majesty's order, promote the message of eliminating locusts to all prefectures and counties, will they cooperate with us?"

"probably not."

Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Keming just said that the idea that locusts are divine insects has been around for hundreds of years. Local officials are convinced of this, so I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to cooperate."

"Then if we go to the various prefectures and counties under the order to assist the court and investigate the Crown Prince's Mansion, will they cooperate with us?"

"This"

Li Shimin reacted for a moment, his eyes widened, and he looked at Changsun Wuji and the other two in disbelief.

This tactic of repairing the plank road in public while secretly attacking Chencang is really amazing!
That afternoon, Li Shimin asked Yunduan to go to the Prince's Mansion and secretly carry a large number of leaflets. He rushed to various prefectures and counties with great vigor. During the day, he investigated rumors in various prefectures and counties, and at night he transformed himself into a black-clad messenger and posted leaflets in the streets and alleys of various prefectures and counties.

The next day, he transformed himself into a messenger of justice and reprimanded the officials of various states and counties for not cooperating properly.

But then an officer from the Hundred Cavalry Division scolded, "What are you all doing?! Why haven't you caught anyone yet?!"

"Sir, these flyers were posted in the middle of the night, and the people have already run away!" said the local official aggrievedly.

"Useless! Are you guys being raised by the imperial court just to be good-for-nothings?!"

"This"

The local officials were filled with indignation, but did not dare to refute.

Then the officer from the Hundred Cavalry Division shouted again, "What are you still doing here? Quickly get your men to clean up these flyers, you bunch of rubbish!"

"Yes Yes Yes!"

The local official nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, and then happily took his subordinates to clean up the flyers.

However, these flyers are not easy to clean up.

Because these flyers are posted just above the head, people can see the content clearly, but they don't have the strength to tear them down.

In addition, when applying it, they used a paste made from several kinds of very sticky soups. The paste is very firm and cannot be peeled off at all. You can only use a knife or a spatula to scrape it down bit by bit.

Ever since.

A hilarious scene unfolded in every prefecture and county, including Chang'an. Officials, or yamen runners tasked with clearing flyers, were seen in broad daylight, their butts bent over, cursing and picking up flyers under the watchful eye of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

"What the hell is that, a bitch, who glued it so firmly?! Doesn't the glue cost money?"

"That's right! I couldn't take it off for a long time, and my arms were so weak!"

"Don't let me catch these bastards! If I catch them, I'll show you how I'll deal with them."

"What nonsense! Clean it up!"

Following the rebuke from the officer of the Hundred Cavalry Division, all the officers immediately fell silent.

However, they finally managed to clean up the flyers around the yamen and finally had time to take a break in the toilet.

As a result, I just squatted down and looked up.

Damn it!
I almost got constipated because of holding it in!
Because there were several flyers posted in the toilet!

He couldn't help but roar in grief and anger: "You damn bastards! Don't you even let me use the toilet properly!?"

Similar things are happening everywhere in states and counties.

There is nothing that cannot be posted, and the flyers have become a nightmare for counties and states.

People who originally didn't pay much attention to the flyers began to pay attention to them curiously.

If for no other reason, just to see those officials who usually act tyrannically jumping up and down.

At the same time, the issue of the pest list continued to ferment among the people.

Although most people were illiterate, through word of mouth, they gradually realized the evil of locusts.

Especially after hearing that locusts are pests, their spirits and energy became different from before.

"Hey, have you noticed that the imperial court seems to have stopped condemning the locusts as pests? No one has even come to dispel the rumor!"

"You're still condemning and refuting rumors! Do you think anyone is still in the government office? Yesterday I saw them spend half a day cleaning up a street in Xishi, and today Xishi is covered with posters again, even more than yesterday! How can they have the time to condemn and refute rumors?"

"Hahaha! Don't tell me, this is so fucking satisfying! I originally thought these black-hearted masters would continue to deceive us!"

"Oh no! We're not fools! Those locusts are eating our crops. It would be strange if they were divine insects! It's just that due to the authority of the government, we dare not kill the locusts privately!"

"Yeah! I don't know who did it! I feel so damn good!"

"I heard it was promoted by the Prince's Mansion, and some people said it was a fake promotion by the Prince's Mansion. However, I don't believe that locusts are divine insects!"

"I don't believe it either! But we can't let the police clear out those flyers. We have to let more people know the truth!"

So, when the officials tried to clean up the flyers again, either golden juice or foot washing water fell from the sky, making the cleaning work much more difficult.

The officials in various counties and prefectures were so angry that their faces turned green.

For a time, all the states and counties were in chaos.

"Hahaha!"

When Li Shimin got the news, he couldn't help but laugh out loud in Ganlu Hall.

Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui and others around them also smiled knowingly.

At this time, Wei Zheng, who had just returned from his investigation in Qi County, gave Li Shimin a strange look, then coughed lightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated the Qi County case. Lu Ning's father, Lu Yuan, did indeed shield Lu Ning. Moreover, not only Lu Yuan, but the entire Qi Prefecture, colluded to defame County Magistrate Liu!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately stopped laughing and said with a cold face, "So, in that case, Pei Ji is indeed colluding with those traitors?"

"Although there is no conclusive evidence that Pei Sikong was involved in the riots, Lu Yuan and Pei Ji have a close relationship. Even if he didn't directly participate in the riots, he indirectly instructed Lu Yuan or Lu Ning!"

"Humph!"

Li Shimin snorted coldly, then turned to look at Fang Xuanling and others, and said in a deep voice, "What do you think about this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling and others looked at each other and finally set their eyes on Changsun Wuji.

But Zhangsun Wuji calmly said, "It's not that I don't want to express my opinion on this matter, but Pei Ji and I already have a feud. If I get involved in this matter again, it will inevitably be suspected of revenge!"

"What is this nonsense?!"

Li Shimin was immediately displeased when he heard Zhangsun Wuji's words. "What grudge do you have against Pei Ji? That was my decision! Even if I asked you to give me your opinion, it's not a personal vendetta!"

"But your majesty, people's words are scary. I am a relative of the emperor, so I will be your servant."

"enough!"

Before Zhangsun Wuji could finish his words, Li Shimin angrily interrupted him: "Why are you the same as your sister? What's the difference between a relative and not a relative?! What I value is your ability!"

"."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji sighed helplessly and remained silent.

Fang Xuanling and others on the side looked at each other in confusion.

On the other side, the Prince's Mansion.

Li Chengqian finally waited for his Eastern Palace officials in Jiangling.

At this time, Ma Zhou, Cen Wenben, Pei Xuan, Xue Rengui, Su Dingfang, Sun Fujia, Liu Rengui, and all the officials of the Eastern Palace including Cai Kun gathered together.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Everyone, the opportunity we've been preparing for two years is coming soon. Next, we must each do our part and build the reputation of the Eastern Palace!"

"Haha! Your Highness the Crown Prince, we have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and we can finally take action!" Pei Xuan was the first to sigh with emotion.

The others also smiled excitedly.

But Xue Rengui said expectantly, "Your Highness, Commander Su and I have already mapped out a detailed route to ensure our food supply is unobstructed!"

"it is good!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction and said, "With you guys guaranteeing the food supply, I'll be relieved. Then, let those aristocratic families open their eyes and see what "empty" means!"

"Your Highness, I have good news. I originally wanted to tell you by letter, but I thought it was not very safe, so I came to tell you in person!" Ma Zhou said with a smile.

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the Fire Spear Guards have been formed?"

"Haha! I told you there's no need to report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he knows everything!" Pei Xuan laughed again.

Ma Zhou's face was suddenly filled with embarrassment, and he said somewhat depressedly: "How come His Royal Highness the Crown Prince knows everything!"

"No, it really is! I just guessed!"

"Well, Your Highness, your guess is spot on! The Musketeers have indeed been formed and are currently conducting combat drills in Jiangling! Some time ago, there was a bandit problem in Xiangyang. I discussed it with Governor Pei and decided to have the Musketeers suppress the bandits. They were completely wiped out in less than half a day!"

"Now, the entire Jiangling Prefecture, including all your current fiefdoms, will be handed over to the Musketeers to handle any banditry or small-scale rebellion!"

"Not bad! Really good!"

Li Chengqian praised with satisfaction, "This way, we can practice our spear skills and quickly get into the battlefield!"

"From what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said, will we be able to enter the battlefield in the future?" Su Dingfang couldn't help but ask excitedly.

Li Chengqian smiled at him and nodded, saying, "As the saying goes, before resisting foreign aggression, we must first stabilize the country. Once we have dealt with those aristocratic families, we will expand outwards and naturally enter new battlefields!"

"That's great! I thought it would be a lifelong regret not being able to attack the Eastern Turks!" Xue Rengui couldn't help but say excitedly.

Li Chengqian glanced at him but didn't say much about the matter. He then asked Cai Kun, "How's things going at the newspaper? Is there any new developments?"

"Your Highness, there are new newspapers appearing in Chang'an recently, but none of them are from us!"

Cai Kun quickly replied, "Also, the content of their report is mainly about a monk from Xing'an Temple. It is said that the monk has Buddhist teachings that can save people from disasters and bring the dead back to life!"

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this, and couldn't help but ask, "What does this monk think about the locust plague?"

"He said the locusts were the Lord of Heaven, and that the locust plague was a punishment for the sinners, and that the greatest sinner was... Your Majesty!"

Good guy!
Where did this evil monk come from, daring to deceive the world?!

Li Chengqian knew without even thinking that there was something fishy about this monk.

But he smiled and said, "Since the newspapers are promoting this monk, let's promote him too, saying that his flesh and blood can make people immortal!"

"what?!"

Everyone was shocked when they heard Li Chengqian's words.

The next day, an issue of the newspaper "Entering Science, Biography of the Holy Monk in Journey to the West" was published at a speed that was jaw-dropping.

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(End of this chapter)