Chapter 4922 Pressing forward step by step

Chapter 4922 Pressing forward step by step

"Is there such a thing?!"

Dai Zhou's eyes widened in shock when he heard that the case, which was originally just a case of collusion among officials of the Wannian County Court, to embezzle public funds and manipulate lawsuits, actually involved someone using inferior materials as substitutes for good ones in the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum.

Han Ai was also a little confused.

This is really a prank!
That is the mausoleum of Emperor Taizong, how dare someone pass off inferior goods as good ones and tamper with it?
Liu Xiangdao nodded: "County Magistrate Duan Yuanliang confessed, and it is certain that Duke Xun was involved. Duke Xun is now being interrogated in the wing room, but he is stubbornly denying and refusing to plead guilty, so we have not yet been able to obtain his confession."

Han Ai frowned: "That's going to be difficult."

Even if someone is extremely bold and dares to do such a thing, who would dare to plead guilty?
The crime of "desecrating the imperial mausoleum" is something that even a prince of the royal family cannot bear. The King of Wei has been stripped of his title for "overstepping the rites". Li Xiaoxie has used inferior building materials instead of good ones for the imperial mausoleum. What if there is a safety hazard that causes the mausoleum to collapse? I'm afraid that everyone in the branch of the King of Xun, from top to bottom, from old to young, will have to be killed.

But after all, he is a member of the royal family and the inheritor of the title of King Xun. He can be listed in a separate row during the sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. He cannot be severely punished, right?

Dai Zhou took a sip of tea, waved his hand, and said disapprovingly: "What's so difficult about it? When it comes to the imperial mausoleum, let alone a mere duke, even a county prince or a prince, no one can resist interrogation with a special status. Solve this case, pull out those rebellious people and bring them to justice. At the same time, find out how many substandard building materials have flowed into the imperial mausoleum, whether it will affect the solidity of the imperial mausoleum, and replace or even rebuild it in time. This is the most important thing."

He looked at Liu Xiangdao and said slowly: "Is the Censorate determined to investigate this thoroughly? If not, you can withdraw now and let the Dali Temple take over."

Han Ai was always perceptive and immediately said, "You two are my elders. This hard work should be done by me. I might as well supervise from the side and check for deficiencies and fill in the gaps."

Liu Xiangdao was so angry that his eyes were glaring. These two, old man and child, were simply not human beings. Did they want to roast him over the fire?
The dignified Imperial Censor, the most pure of the pure, the embodiment of "justice" and "toughness", if

How can I have the face to occupy this position if my reputation of "fearing the powerful" spreads?

But torturing Li Xiaoxie would cause serious consequences...

But at this moment he had no room for hesitation. Compared with the backlash from the royal family later, he had to show enough strength and fairness at this moment.

"Come here, torture Li Xiaoxie and make him bow his head and confess his guilt, and reveal whether he has any accomplices!"

"Here!"

Then, Liu Xiangdao looked at Dai Zhou and asked, "Are you proud that your provocation worked?"

Dai Zhou laughed and said, "I will be proud only if this method of provoking him doesn't work."

Han Ai patted his thigh and said regretfully, "If such a major case could be solved, it would be a great achievement. It's a pity that the Censorate got there first. Since it involves the imperial mausoleum, it's a major case. Why not have the three judicial departments jointly try it? There is strength in numbers, and the case can be tried more quickly and accurately, which can relieve some of the pressure on the Censorate."

"Oh," Liu Xiangdao sneered. The two men's abacus beads were clacking louder than those accountants. "Don't bother with that. The Censorate is responsible for monitoring all officials, correcting illegalities, reviewing criminal cases, and investigating corruption and rectifying the administration of officials. Officials at all levels are righteous and swear to be incompatible with illegality. No matter how high their official rank, how much power they have, or how noble their status is, as long as they violate the criminal law, they will be brought to justice!"

Is he afraid of pressure?
What a joke! As a clean figure among the clean ones, it is his duty to be impartial and upright. His reputation has been damaged by being slandered as a "emperor's lackey" in the past. This case is a good opportunity to clear his name. He is just afraid that the pressure is not great enough!

Soon, Li Shouyue came back in a hurry, looking excited, and handed the confession in his hand to Liu Xiang, saying: "Li Xiaoxie confessed, and also confessed that the other seven members of the royal family had all used inferior materials and cut corners in the process of supplying building materials for Zhaoling!"

Liu Xiangdao stood up suddenly, took the confession and read it quickly, then looked up at Fang Jun with a serious expression: "This case involves too many people and has serious consequences. Duke Yue must send more soldiers to help arrest the criminals, and at the same time, we must ensure the stability of Chang'an."

Fang Jun did not agree, but said softly: "Let's report to His Majesty first. Please give your order on how to decide."

Liu Xiangdao shook his head: "The case is clear and the evidence is conclusive. It is all within the scope of the Censorate's authority. We can investigate it thoroughly. Why do we need Your Majesty to make a decision?"

He didn't think it was a good thing to inform Li Chengqian.

Firstly, this case involves a wide range of people, and many royal family members are involved. Rather than letting Your Majesty be the "bad guy", it would be better for the Censorate to take the responsibility and not make things difficult for Your Majesty.

Furthermore, Your Majesty has always been indecisive and tolerant towards the royal family. If you want to preserve the royal family and do not want to bear the responsibility of slaughtering them, you may let these people escape this disaster...

Fang Jun insisted, "When it comes to the royal family, the Censorate only has the power to interrogate, not to deal with. Even if it turns out to be an ironclad case, doesn't your Majesty still have to make the final decision? Your Majesty has his own overall considerations for the royal family, so we should report this to your Majesty in advance."

Liu Xiangdao was very angry. He felt that he should take the initiative to be the "bad guy" instead of putting the blame on His Majesty. After all, he was indeed the "emperor's lackey". Although he was upright, it did not prevent him from being His Majesty's vanguard...

But he could refute Fang Jun's opinions, but he could not resist.

"Then come to the palace immediately to see His Majesty."

"That's how it should be."

"Will the Duke of Yue not come with us?"

"The Imperial Censor can go on his own. I will stay here to coordinate and ensure that nothing goes wrong in Chang'an City."

If it involves the imperial mausoleum, someone will definitely lose his life. It is hard to guarantee that the royal family members will not take the risk...

Liu Xiangdao said no more, packed up his confession, stood up and said goodbye to the few people, took a few followers and rode out of the county government and headed straight for the palace.

……

Li Chengqian had not slept in the imperial study, waiting for news from the Wannian County Court. First, Zheng Rentai reported the chaos in Chang'an, and then the "Hundred Cavalry Division" reported that the Censorate and the Jinwu Guards were making large-scale arrests, even involving many royal family members. This inevitably made him anxious.

When Liu Xiangdao asked for an audience outside the palace gate, he immediately had someone take him to the imperial study.

After Liu Xiangdao greeted him, Li Chengqian asked, "What is the situation outside? Why are they arresting people so lavishly?"

Liu Xiangdao put aside the confessions in his hand, took off his hat, knelt on the ground, and choked up: "I am a humble person, but was selected by Your Majesty to take the position of Vice Prime Minister. Not only have I failed to repay Your Majesty's kindness, but I have also neglected my duty of supervising all officials, causing the traitors to embezzle the building materials of Zhaoling Mausoleum. The soul of Emperor Taizong is disturbed, and I deserve death!"

Having said this, he burst into tears.

Li Chengqian's face changed drastically. He stood up suddenly and walked to Liu Xiangdao with a few long strides. He looked down at him with red eyes and said, "What did you say? Someone tampered with the building materials of Zhaoling Mausoleum?!"

Liu Xiangdao held up several confessions above his head: "It has been found that Xun Guogong Li Xiaoxie, Changle Junwang Li Youliang, Zichuan Junwang Li Xiaotong, and several royal family members were involved, either passing off inferior goods as good ones or falsely reporting numbers... It's shocking and outrageous!"

"Good, good, good!"

Li Chengqian took the confessions with shaking hands and read them carefully one by one. His face flushed, his lips trembled, and his eyes were bloodshot. "The late emperor ruled the world, benefited the people, and had unparalleled prestige, but he did not expect that his position as a god would be blasphemed and trampled by his own children. I pride myself on being tolerant and magnanimous to the royal family, but I indulged them in their audacity, causing the late emperor's mausoleum to be humiliated. I am unworthy of being a son!"

Seeing Li Chengqian trembling all over with bloodshot eyes in anger, Liu Xiangdao was shocked. He got up from the ground, stepped forward to support Li Chengqian's arm, and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, calm down, Your Majesty, calm down. This thief is so bold that he will be punished according to the law. Don't get angry and hurt yourself!"

"call……"

Li Chengqian let out a long breath and slowly calmed down.

After a while, he said, "Announce Li Junxian to see you!"

"Here!"

Wang De, who had been keeping his head down and was frightened, agreed after hearing what was said, walked out of the imperial study quickly, and sent someone to summon Li Junxian.

Li Chengqian's anger subsided a little, and he returned to the imperial desk and sat down. He asked someone to make tea, and asked Liu Xiangdao to sit down again: "Tell me what happened."

It was just a case of embezzlement of funds for repairing dangerous buildings in Wannian County, but how did it involve a major case related to the construction of the imperial mausoleum?
Liu Xiangdao sat halfway down, holding the teacup but not daring to drink, and explained the incident in detail.

Hearing that Fang Jun not only sent troops to arrest those involved in the case, but also personally sat in Wannian County to protect Cheng'an and ensure the stability of the capital, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little excited. He now hoped that those members of the royal family were too deeply involved and knew that they could not escape the death penalty, so they took the risk and launched the operation in advance...

He was a man without much patience. Although he was careful about his reputation and prepared to strike back, the enemy's reluctance to act made him quite anxious and impatient.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to solve it once and for all...

"Your Majesty, General Li has arrived."

"Xuan."

"Here."

Soon, Li Junxian walked in.

"I will see your Majesty at last."

"No need to be polite. General, do you know what happened in the city?"

"I have heard a little bit about it."

"The Hundred Cavalry Division has sent out its best personnel to assist the Censorate in investigating this case. No matter who is involved, they will be arrested first and then interrogated. If necessary, they can be severely punished regardless of their identity."

Although the Censorate had tortured Li Xiaoxie before, it had many concerns and the punishment was too mild to achieve the purpose of shocking people.

The "Bai Qi Si" is different. It is the real minions of the emperor. Once the "Bai Qi Si" uses severe punishment on the children of the royal family, the significance is more significant and the deterrent effect is more far-reaching.

If we continue to press on, I don't believe they will be able to sit still...

Li Junxian thought for a moment and immediately understood what His Majesty meant. He said in a deep voice, "I obey your command!"

This snowy night is destined to be swept by strong winds.

(End of this chapter)