Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 1412
The emperor's words sealed the demise of the Zhu family in Wu County.

Rebellious ministers shall be punished, and imperial envoys shall do no wrong.

This sentence is equivalent to a mass reply to the voice of the Manchu Dynasty participating in the impeachment of Li Qinzai.

Everyone, please rest. The Zhu family of Wu County deserves to die. Li Qinzai was not only right, but also meritorious.

The three divisions of the Yushitai of Dali Temple of the Ministry of Punishment held a joint trial and sentenced Zhu of Wu County to death. Now it is no longer a question of whether Zhu of Wu County was unjust or not, but the extent of Zhu's crime.

Under the premise that the emperor personally determined it, the family members continued to participate in the impeachment of Li Qinzai and exonerate the Zhu family of Wu County.

Impeaching loyal ministers, exonerating guilty ministers, and confronting the emperor, what are the intentions of this noble family?

A mere edict seems to be talking about the Zhu family of Wu County, but it contains a lot of information, and only smart people can interpret many subtexts.

There is no shortage of smart people in aristocratic families.

After issuing the imperial edict, Li Zhi still felt that it was not safe enough.

Li Qinzai dug up the graves of aristocratic families, and the enemy came with such force that the emperor could hardly stop him, let alone the chief official of the Third Department of Yushitai of Dali Temple of the Ministry of Punishment, who was in charge of the case.

What if the case took a sudden turn for the worse under pressure while the three courts were interrogating, wouldn't Li Zhi be slapped in the face?

After all, most of the officials of the Third Division also come from aristocratic families, so it is difficult to guarantee their impartiality in handling cases.

If the Zhu family was forcibly cleared, not only would Li Zhi be slapped in the face, but Li Qinzai, who was far away in the south of the Yangtze River, would also lose his life and be the culprit who framed the famous family. How can Li Qinzai act justly in the future?

So after the imperial edict was issued, Li Zhi still frowned deeply, pondered for a long time, and suddenly said: "Come, prepare the ceremony, I want to visit the British Duke."

Empress Wu next to her brightened up when she heard this and said, "Your Majesty wants to ask Duke Ying to take action to try the Zhu family case in Wu County?"

Li Zhi nodded and said solemnly: "Yes, this case must be nailed down, otherwise it will be a stab in the back for Jing Chu, and there is no point in staying in Jiangnan."

"But now that all the enemies in the court are participating in the impeachment, the only person that I and Jingchu can trust is Mr. Ying. It is safest to ask Mr. Ying to take action and preside over the case together with the three departments."

Empress Wu smiled and said: "Your Majesty is wise, and the trial of Princess Ying is perfect. It just so happens that Ying Gong has the remaining power of the victory in the Eastern Expedition. There are also Ying Gong, Prince Taishi, Sikong, and Tong Zhongshu's third-rank family. With the reputation of Ying Gong, or It can intimidate the noble families."

Li Zhi said with a smile: "I think so too. Now only Yinggong can intimidate the civil and military forces, help Jing Chu to relieve his worries, and let him do whatever he wants in Jiangnan."

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Li Zhi looked at the clear sky outside the hall and said leisurely: "Jingchu and I are trying our best, and our achievements for a thousand years can be achieved in one fell swoop!"

Empress Wu also followed his gaze and looked outside the palace, sighing: "If we can solve the land problem, it will be a great achievement for a long time, and Zuo of the Tang Dynasty can look forward to it for eternity."

…………

Jiangnan, outside Suzhou City.

Tomorrow is the day to entertain the heads of the seven prominent families. It is already late at night, but there are still many soldiers busy in the camp.

Baiqisi has been sending intelligence continuously in the past two days. Chaos has occurred in many places in the south of the Yangtze River. Many landlords and farmers have gathered and acted abnormally.

Officials and civil servants from various places followed Li Qinzai's instructions to re-measure the land in the south of the Yangtze River. This move really stirred up a hornet's nest.

It has touched the interests of many people, not only the prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, but also small landowners and squires in villages in various states, counties, and even state and county officials.

The structure of civil society in the Tang Dynasty was relatively primitive. Until now, villages outside the city are still dominated by squire clans. The interests of landlords and squire clans are consistent. They belong to the same class, while ordinary farmers, farmers and tenants are another class.

The implementation of the imperial decree requires not only the strong cooperation of state and county officials, but also the cooperation of these gentry and clans.If any party intends to disobey, this decree will be a dead letter.

Of course, officials can also rely on state machinery to enforce the law, but they will undoubtedly run the risk of offending local gentry and clans. This is the so-called "centrifugal virtue."

This time you offended so many squire clans and enforced the decree. What will happen next?
Will they still need their cooperation in future government orders?Are you still a local official?

Since ancient times, ignorant people have often made up the majority, and such people are very easy to be incited.

An inconspicuous commotion, a completely misinterpreted rumor, instigated by a few words from those who are interested, can quickly turn into a landslide-like civil uprising.

Many civil rebellions in the past dynasties were formed in this way.

In the eyes of smart people, its occurrence is sad and ridiculous, but it is undeniable that once a popular uprising occurs, its incitement and destructiveness will make people laugh.

In the middle of the night, in the camp outside Gusu City, Li Qinzai was sleeping soundly. He had everything in his dream, including the gentle Jiangnan beauty he could not forget.

Feng Su suddenly rushed into the commander's tent and shook Li Qinzai awake.

Li Qinzai opened his eyes, anger bursting out of them. Feng Su shrank back in fear. Everyone knew how angry the Fifth Young Master was when he got up, let alone waking him up in the middle of the night.

"Forgive me, Fifth Young Master, something happened!" Feng Su said bravely.

"If you don't tell me something big, Feng, you won't be able to think about it tonight." Li Qinzai gritted his teeth.

Feng Su hurriedly said: "It is indeed a big deal... Fifth Young Master, Baiqisi urgent military report, Jiangning civil uprising!"

Li Qinzai's expression changed, and he stood up immediately. While putting on his clothes, he said solemnly: "Why did the people in Jiangning revolt?"

Feng Su said: "According to Baiqisi's investigation, it was instigated by some landlords and gentry in Jiangning City. It is still unknown whether there are seven prominent families among them who are behind the instigation."

"How many people participated in the uprising?"

"Landowners and farmers from villages outside the city gathered together, about [-] people. I heard that they continued to incite while gathering together. The number of people participating is still increasing, and they are all ordinary farmers from all over the country."

Li Qinzai pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I am hosting a banquet for the heads of the famous families tomorrow. The news has been leaked beforehand. Tomorrow's banquet is a time for the heads of the famous families to share their profits. Today's uprising should not be instigated by the famous families... "

Feng Su also said: "The Baiqisi spies said the same thing. They judged that some landowners in Jiangning's private villages believed the rumors and thought that the Fifth Young Master's order to measure the land was to increase taxes, so they took the risk and incited a civil uprising."

Then Feng Su said anxiously: "But now the civil uprising has become a climate, more and more of these people are gathering. I heard that they came straight to our camp overnight. At this time, General Xue led most of his troops to surround the six major camps. The ancestral home of a distinguished family, there is no time to come back for help, Fifth Young Master... why don’t we stay out of the limelight for a while?"

Li Qinzai sneered: "Are you kidding me? I will be scared away by thousands of civil uprisings. Do I still want my face if the news reaches Chang'an?"

"But at this time, General Xue has no time to come back for reinforcements. It is said that the rebels will arrive outside our camp early tomorrow morning. By then, Fifth Young Master will be in danger."

Li Qinzai said yes, the civil commotion was indeed difficult to handle. After all, it was the ignorant people who were incited. It would be understandable if they killed them all, but Li Qinzai really couldn't attack ordinary people.

Ignorance is indeed hateful, but it is not worthy of death.

After thinking for a long time, Li Qinzai suddenly said: "Send fast horses to all the prominent families to spread my word that the Jiangning civil uprising has occurred and my camp will be surrounded tomorrow morning."

"If the heads of the family still want to share the pie that I sent out, let them decide on their own."

(End of this chapter)