HLnovel Chapter 1180 Confiscating the property of aristocratic families
Chapter 1180 Confiscating the property of aristocratic families
Master Gao nodded repeatedly, then suddenly remembered something and asked urgently:
"Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, how is Gouwa, that child, doing?"
Li Che said, "He is Cheng'er's study companion, and he has learned almost all the characters. Although he cannot be said to be well-versed in literature, he is extremely clever and learns everything quickly."
“Cheng’er likes him very much and often praises him to me. I also like that child.”
The wrinkled face of the wealthy man suddenly blossomed into a smile.
“Good, good,” he murmured. “This child has a hard life. His parents died early. I thought it would be a blessing if he could live a peaceful life farming in the village.”
"Who would have thought that His Majesty would take a liking to him and bring him to the capital... This is a blessing he has accumulated over many lifetimes..."
He raised his sleeve and quietly pressed his eye.
Gouwa was just an orphan he adopted. They might not have had a very good relationship before; perhaps it's just that people become more sentimental as they get older.
Li Che saw all of this but didn't say anything.
Once the old man had calmed down a bit, he slowly began to speak:
"If Master Gao misses him, why not come to the capital with me? I will have Cheng'er give Gouwa a few days off so you can have a proper reunion."
"If you are willing to stay for a long time, I will provide you with a residence in the capital, and it will be convenient for you to visit the palace in your spare time."
Master Gao was stunned upon hearing this.
He raised his head, looked at Li Che's sincere face, and his lips moved, clearly moved.
But that feeling of attraction lasted only a moment before he slowly shook his head and sighed, "Your Majesty's kindness is appreciated by this old man."
He lowered his eyes, looking at his hands, calloused and with large knuckles:
"But I'm sixty-eight years old this year, and I'm buried up to my neck in the yellow earth. I really can't move anymore."
“I have lived in that village outside Chang’an for forty-three years. The jujube tree behind the house was planted by me the year I got married. The well at the entrance of the village was dug by me and the villagers when I was young.”
"My wife's grave is on the hillside east of the village, facing the sun, and you can see our family's fields from there."
"I've never amounted to anything in my life. All I want to do is stay here and tend to my wife's grave until the day I lie down in it myself. That will be enough."
The hall remained quiet for a long time.
Li Che looked at the old man in plain clothes in front of him, and his heart was moved.
Some people are so deeply rooted that forcibly pulling them out will only hurt them.
"Very well," Li Che said, no longer trying to persuade him. "That's fine too."
After Master Gao calmed down, Li Che continued:
"Tonight, the Prince of Huai'an is hosting a family banquet. Members of the imperial family and nobles from Chang'an will be there. If you don't mind the noise, please come with me. It's a good opportunity to get to know everyone."
He didn't say "I'll take you there," but asked "Come with me," and Master Gao understood the weight of that question.
That was a banquet for the imperial family; all the attendees were members of the Li imperial clan.
Once Old Man Gao steps across that threshold, no one in Chang'an will dare to look down on him, nor will anyone dare to touch a single blade of grass in Gao Family Village.
He paused for a moment, then shook his head.
“Your Majesty,” he said calmly, his eyes lowered, “I am but a humble countryman, incapable of speaking politely or entertaining those dignitaries. Going there would only cause Your Majesty trouble.”
"I live in a village outside the city. Your Majesty, please come and visit when you have time. I will cook new rice, pick fresh dates, and stew old hen soup for you."
He looked up, his smile revealing a gap in his teeth, yet he was remarkably forthright: "Isn't that better than any banquet?"
Li Che looked at him, and after a moment he smiled too.
"Okay, it's a deal."
Master Gao nodded vigorously, and the two chatted for a while longer before he got up to take his leave.
As he was leaving, he glanced back and saw the young emperor still sitting there, smiling at him.
He didn't say anything more, but bowed deeply and followed the eunuch.
The palace doors closed gently.
Qiu Bai stepped forward to clear away the teacups, and seeing Li Che still staring blankly at the door, he couldn't help but whisper:
“Your Majesty, Master Gao is a wise man.”
Li Che said, "Yes, even an old farmer knows not to fight or grab, and to know when to stop. How come those well-read noble families don't understand this principle?"
. . . . . .
There's not much to say about the banquet at the Prince's residence.
The imperial family members filled the side hall, and Prince Li Yu of Huai'an personally poured wine, showing them utmost hospitality.
Apart from him, the rest of the Li clan members shrank back, not daring to speak loudly.
Li Che knew perfectly well that when he led his troops to the gates of Chang'an, almost all of these members of the imperial clan opposed him.
The remaining members of the imperial clan were either observing from the sidelines, remaining neutral, or secretly tipping off the powerful families.
Now, sitting at the same table, they dared not look him in the eye, and when they offered him a toast, their hands trembled so much that they almost spilled half a glass of wine.
Li Che accepted each toast and even inquired about the studies and family property of several older members of the imperial clan.
The members of the royal family were initially trembling with fear, and their answers were hesitant and stuttering.
After several rounds of drinks, seeing that His Majesty really had no intention of bringing up old grievances, the conversation gradually became more frequent, and the smiles became more genuine.
Before the banquet ended, Li Che put down his wine cup and glanced at everyone with a casual yet serious expression.
"I have only one sentence." His voice was not loud, but the hall fell silent instantly. "The Li family did not obtain the country easily. Your wealth and honor are shared by all of you. Do not do anything that harms the people."
He paused, then said in a flat tone, "Otherwise, don't blame me for not showing any kinship."
Everyone was awed and readily agreed.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Li Che sighed slightly.
No wonder that, with the exception of a few, members of the imperial family in ancient times were almost always a drag on the dynasty.
This group of people is utterly useless.
After the banquet, the members of the royal family filed out, their steps much lighter.
Since His Majesty has given a warning in person, it means that the past will not be held against him.
After the meal, the members of the royal family felt much more at ease.
Li Che sat alone for a while, then got up and boarded the carriage.
The night breeze brushed against my cheeks, and the alcohol was starting to take effect.
The imperial palace was now in sight.
Just as he entered the warm pavilion, Qiu Bai came to report: the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was requesting an audience.
Li Che rubbed his temples: "Send it."
As Qianhu stepped through the palace gates, Li Che was drinking a cup of warm honey water to sober up.
The commander knelt on one knee and spoke rapidly: "Your Majesty, forty-three criminal officials have been apprehended in Chang'an today."
"The seven main culprits, led by Wei Li, have all been imprisoned. The remaining thirty-six accomplices are all found to have committed bribery and corruption."
He paused for a moment: "The main culprit's residence is now completely surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, with no way to get through."
"According to the confessions of Wei Li and several accomplices, there are also about twenty officials in various prefectures and counties of Qin who are involved in the case. Should they all be arrested and prosecuted?"
Li Che's finger remained on the map for a long time without moving.
The candlelight flickered in the hall, illuminating his face, which was half-lit and half-shadowed.
"Grasp."
His voice was low, and the effects of the alcohol had completely worn off.
"Anyone involved in this case, regardless of their official rank or who is implicated, shall be arrested and brought to justice."
"If there's one person involved in this chain of interests, arrest them! If there are ten, arrest all ten!"
The commander replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
He did not get up immediately, but asked again, "Your Majesty, what should be done with the families of the main culprits?"
Li Che coldly replied, "Copy!"
"Here!"
Qianhu was about to withdraw.
But Li Che stopped him: "Wait."
Qianhu froze.
He looked up, his gaze falling on the deep night outside the window:
"It is already late at night. The armored soldiers break down the door, and the clanging of metal will frighten the people who do not know what is going on."
"We'll make our move tomorrow morning. We can't let a single one slip through. Isn't that old man from the Wei family supposed to be a veteran of two dynasties with disciples all over the world?"
"I'd like to see which of his disciples dares to come and collect his corpse!"
Qianhu's pupils contracted slightly, then he cupped his hands and said:
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
. . . . . .
The next day, Chang'an City awoke with the dawn.
At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the Imperial Guards came out in full force.
The vermilion gate of the Wei Mansion, a seven-entrance, seven-exit building at the East Market entrance, was smashed open, and the hinges emitted a sharp, mournful wail as if they could not bear the weight.
The Imperial Guards, dressed in flying fish robes, surged in like a tide, startling everyone in the courtyard.
Wei Li's father, the elderly Mr. Wei, whose students and former officials were all over the Qin region, was still drinking ginseng soup on his bed.
When the Imperial Guards burst into the inner room, the celadon cup in his hand fell, spilling soup all over him.
He paid no heed to wiping himself, staring intently at the newcomer, and sternly declared, "I am a veteran official of three dynasties, how dare you..."
"Wei Wenzhao." The leading centurion unfurled a yellow silk ribbon, his face expressionless. "By imperial decree, arrest him and bring him to justice."
The old man's voice abruptly stopped.
In the western part of the city, at the residence of Zhao, an official in the Transport Department.
As Zhao's wife was applying her makeup in front of the mirror, she suddenly heard a deafening cry from the front yard, and her hairpins and jewelry fell to the ground.
South Gate, the residence of Sun, the Grain and Supplies Judge.
Young Master Sun had just returned from a night of drinking and revelry, still drunk and asleep, when the Imperial Guards dragged him out of his bed and dragged him barefoot across the long bluestone street.
In every street and alley, in every house, cries and pleas for mercy rose and fell.
People stood on the street corner, holding their breakfast bowls, gazing into the distance.
People pointed and whispered among themselves:
"That's the Wei family, isn't it? They deserve it!"
"That Zhao family, last year they forcibly bought farmland from the people, driving them to ruin and death..."
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
As more and more people were arrested, the escorting lines grew longer and longer.
The once impeccably dressed officials, the jeweled ladies, and the pampered young masters and misses were now disheveled and being escorted by the Imperial Guards, staggering towards the prison.
In prison, the officials initially tried to resist.
As Wei Li was being led into the torture chamber, he was still sneering: "I am a high-ranking official of the imperial court. You have no right to interrogate me. I want to see the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner! I want to see the Minister of Justice! You have set up your own court, which is a violation of regulations!"
The commander of the Imperial Guards glanced at him.
Without saying a word, he simply removed the white cloth covering the wall.
Wei Li's smile froze on his face.
Instruments of torture.
He had seen instruments of torture, he had been to the interrogation room of the prefectural government office, and he had also seen the torture chamber of the governor's office.
But he couldn't name any of these things in front of him.
The skills of the Minister of Justice of the Feng Army were passed down from generation to generation and naturally flowed into the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Qianhu began to roll up his sleeves.
Fifteen minutes later, Wei Li collapsed in the filth, tears streaming down his face.
I can't take it, I really can't take it.
Waterboarding alone caused him to lose control of his bladder and bowels.
He confessed everything, including the first batch of military rations he had embezzled ten years ago, every accomplice he had colluded with, and every false entry he had made in the ledgers.
He lay prone on the ground, looking up at the expressionless commander, his lips trembling:
"You...you Embroidered Uniform Guards, you are truly the emperor's lackeys!"
Qianhu looked down at him without answering.
"Helper" is not a derogatory term. Being able to be a henchman of the emperor is a blessing from one's ancestors. Ordinary people can't even dream of being one!