"Chief Steward, there are so many Confucian scholars. Should we arrest them all?"
In front of the Guancheng Provincial Governor's Office, a guard hesitated when he heard Li Jing say that he wanted to arrest all the Confucian scholars.
The Great Tang was founded on martial arts. Although it was not like the Song and Ming Dynasties, ordinary people still respected scholars.
Today, more than two hundred Confucian scholars came to the Provincial Governor's Office to cause trouble. Compared to the number of scholars the Cui Clan had raised, these were just a drop in the ocean. However, if Li Jing arrested all of these Confucian scholars, it would definitely shake the court and cause all the scholars in the world to attack him!
"Guancheng County has just been established. We need to calm the people down. Arrest them and interrogate them first. If they are innocent, then let them go. If they are in cahoots with the Cui Clan, then no one can save them. So what if they are scholars? Can a scholar violate the law and slander the emperor? "
Li Jing also felt that this matter was tricky, but for him, the most important thing was to calm the people of Guancheng County.
"Yes! Chief Steward! "
The guard cupped his fists and walked to the door. He ordered loudly, "Arrest all these audacious students who slander the Emperor and throw them all into prison!"
"You dare? We are the disciples of the Saints. We read the books of the Saints! "
A hint of panic flashed in the eyes of the leading scholar. Then, he put on a fierce front.
"Hmph! Disciples of the Saints? You think you are worthy? The benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith of the Saints? What have you learned? The Saints told you to be loyal to the Emperor and love the country. Is this what you did? You are just a bunch of selfish and greedy scoundrels in troubled times. Are you worthy of being called disciples of the Saints? You are simply ruining the reputation of Confucius! Take them away! "
At this moment, an old man walked out of the Provincial Governor's Office and scolded the group of Confucian scholars.
"This is Minister Wei?"
A Confucian scholar recognized the old man. Who else could this old man be but Wei Zheng?
Since the beginning of this year, Wei Zheng had been sent to Henan Province to clean up the government. He had appeared in public many times, so it was not surprising that someone recognized him.
When the leading scholar saw that it was Wei Zheng, his face immediately paled.
When it came to generals like Li Jing, he could use his glib tongue to accuse Li Jing, but when it came to Wei Zheng, who made a career out of 'scolding', he was truly terrified!
After all, the person in front of him was a super ruthless person who dared to scold Second Emperor Li in front of him. Who could be compared to him?
"Hmph! You can't differentiate between good and evil, loyalty and treachery. You've read the books of the sages in vain! Today you even came to the Provincial Governor's Office to mislead the people with your lies, with the intention of inciting the common people to rebel with you. This old man will definitely report this to His Majesty and strip you of your academic status, so that you will never be able to participate in the imperial examinations! "
The more Wei Zheng spoke, the angrier he became. His last sentence scared the group of Confucian scholars quite a bit!
"Wei Zuo Cheng, please calm down. Please don't take away the student's student status. We were all bewitched by Xue Guangwen and came here to cause trouble!"
"Yeah! Left Minister Wei, please calm down. We were all bewitched by Xue Guangwen! "
"I beg Wei Zuo Cheng not to deprive us of our academic status!"
Wicked people needed to be tamed by wicked people, and scholars naturally needed to be tamed by scholars. Wei Zheng had also read the books of the sages, so he knew what these Confucian scholars cared about the most. He immediately grasped their sore spot, and the group of Confucian scholars began to beg for mercy. The leading Confucian scholar roared in exasperation, "Stop!
"Nonsense! You are all talking nonsense. You came willingly. What does it have to do with me, Xue Guangwen? "
Li Jing frowned and said, "Take this Xue Guangwen down and properly interrogate him about his relationship with the Cui family!"
"Yes!"
Immediately, two wolf-like soldiers lifted Xue Guangwen up.
"Chief Steward, although the rest of the Confucian scholars were bewitched, this shows that they can't distinguish right from wrong and should be punished. Why don't we also capture them and lock them up for a few days as punishment? I will report this to His Majesty! "
Wei Zheng looked at the rest of the Confucian scholars and frowned, then suggested to Li Jing.
Li Jing originally had such a plan. When Wei Zheng said this, he had no more scruples in his heart. He waved his hand and said, "Capture them all and properly interrogate them!"
"Yes!"
A group of soldiers surrounded the two hundred Confucian scholars. Now that the Confucian scholars knew fear, they all knelt down and begged for mercy.
At this time, the onlookers burst into cheers.
"Good! Good capture! A few days ago, it was you people who were talking about how good the Cui family was. In the end, you almost killed all of us in Guan Cheng County! "
"You lackeys of the Cui family, relying on a few books to help the Cui family confuse us, the people. You are really vicious, you deserve to die!"
"That's right! I beg Left Prime Minister Wei and General Li to make the decision for the people and severely punish these scholars! "
Back then, the Cui family established the Zheng Zhou Daily and ordered the scholars under them to give lectures in the streets, promoting Li Er's brutality and praising the Cui family's benevolence and righteousness. This encouraged the people to actively join the army and support the Cui family. However, in the end, the Cui family used them as stepping stones and scapegoats in their plans for hegemony. So now, not only did the people hate the Cui family, but they also hated these Confucian scholars who helped the tyrant!
This was the aspiration of the people!
Wei Zheng pursed his lips. He was a little sad but also a little relieved. He turned around and shouted at the backs of the Confucian scholars who were being escorted away, "This is the aspiration of the people, do you see it? You bring disaster to the country and the people, but you call yourselves the children of saints. You have let down Confucius and the people of this world! As long as I, Wei Xuancheng, am in this world, I will make sure that you scum will never be able to rise again! "
After that, he looked at Li Jing and said, "Director Li, please let me handle these Confucian scholars. If there is anything illegal on them, I will not be merciful! Previously, His Majesty asked me to come to Henan Province to clean up the governance. I didn't expect that the Cui family would rebel halfway. Now that the rebellion has been quelled, but the officialdom in Henan Province still needs to be cleaned up in time. So, Director Li, you take the army back to Chang 'an first. I will stay here and give Henan Province a bright future! "
Li Jing was shocked and moved. He couldn't help but respect Wei Zheng because Wei Zheng took the initiative to take on this kind of "dirty and tiring work". Obviously, he wanted to take the blame for him! If he were to deal with this matter, it would definitely cause many civil officials in the imperial court to impeach him. Wei Zheng was helping him to reduce the trouble!
"In that case, I will have to trouble you, Left Prime Minister Wei!"
Li Jing cupped his hands and said, "The city has just been taken care of, and the security around Zhengzhou is also worrying. In order to avoid the danger last time, I will leave five thousand troops for you to use!"
Wei Zheng didn't refuse because although the Cui family had been destroyed, who knew if there were any remaining forces stirring up trouble in the dark? He cupped his hands and said, "Then I will thank you, Director Li!"
…
At noon, after eating lunch, Li Jing called Meng Wenhao over and handed him a letter and said, "Quickly send this news back to Chang An. After the army replenishes their rations, we will return to the imperial court tomorrow!"
Since Wei Zheng was willing to stay in Guancheng County to clean up this mess, Li Jing felt that there was no need for him to stay here. In terms of pacifying the people, Wei Zheng was undoubtedly better than him. As such, he planned to return to the imperial court tomorrow morning.
Why wait until tomorrow? The main reason was that the army didn't bring much rations to ensure the speed of the march. If they didn't replenish their rations in Guancheng County, the army would probably starve on the way back!
"Yes! Director! "
Meng Wenhao took it with both hands and was about to turn around and leave when Li Jing stopped him, "Meng Wenhao, wait!"
Meng Wenhao was confused and didn't know what Li Jing wanted.
Li Jing got up and coughed twice. His face flashed with embarrassment, "Cough cough! Meng Wenhao, do you have any intention of making contributions in the military in the future? With your talent in telegraphy, this old man can persuade His Majesty to give you a position in the army. What do you think? "
Poaching, the dignified military god of Tang actually wanted to poach someone. Because of Han Yuxi, Li Zexuan was Li Jing's junior. But now, Li Jing actually wanted to poach his student. No wonder he had an embarrassed look on his face just now.
Meng Wenhao obviously didn't expect Li Jing to say this to him. Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment and then took two steps back. He solemnly bowed and replied, "Director's military achievements are outstanding and awe-inspiring. It is indeed my honor to be able to serve beside you. But Wenhao's skills were all taught to me by Yamachō. Even if Wenhao wants to go to the military, Wenhao has to get Yamachō's permission! Besides, I only learned a little about Yamachō's engineering. I don't want to leave Yanhuang College now, so I hope you can forgive me! "
Li Jing's face turned red and he waved his hand, "Cough cough! It's fine, it's fine! I'm just asking casually. Don't take it seriously. When you return to Yunshan, don't mention this to Yamachō! "
If Li Zexuan were to find out about this, where would he put his old face? At this moment, Li Jing regretted asking just now!
Meng Wenhao couldn't help but laugh in his heart. He didn't expect the invincible military god of Tang, Li Jing, to have such a moment. How rare!
"Don't worry, Director. I didn't hear anything just now! But I have something to say, I don't know if it's appropriate? "
Meng Wenhao cupped his hands and said.
Li Jing raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh? Wenhao, go ahead! "
Meng Wenhao said, "It's actually not difficult for Director to use telegraphy in the military on a large scale! Yamachō promotes engineering so that the students of the academy can apply what they have learned. Yamachō will definitely be very willing to lend you a hand in this matter! "
Li Jing's eyes lit up. Indeed, it was better to go directly to Li Zexuan, the "head" of engineering, than to poach people behind their backs!
Meng Wenhao saw that Li Jing was silent and deep in thought, so he quietly left.
… … …
"Father, Guan Cheng has been victorious! Director Li sent a telegram saying that the head of the Cui family, Cui Junchuo, and the governor of Zhengzhou, Pan Zhenyue, have been executed. The army will return tomorrow! "
In Chang 'an City, Li Tai had just finished his lunch when Li Er rushed over and reported.
"Oh? Guan Cheng County has been conquered so quickly? Quick! Let me have a look ~! "
Li Er was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth. Two days ago, he was still worried about how to conquer Guan Cheng. Today, he received news that Guan Cheng had been conquered, which really surprised him!
Li Tai quickly handed the telegram over. As they weren't in a hurry to march this time, there was plenty of time to send the telegram. Therefore, this telegram described the process of conquering Guan Cheng County in detail. Li Er read it for a full 15 minutes before he finally finished reading it. He couldn't help but sigh,
"Good! We didn't hurt the innocent people, and our soldiers didn't suffer too many casualties. This plan of cooperation from the inside and the outside was well done! Liu Rengui? This person is also a talent. He is brave and resourceful. The governor of Bian Province sent him to manage the city. It was the right choice! If it weren't for him, Wei Xuancheng would have met with misfortune this time!
This Li Yu can actually stay calm in a dangerous situation and help the army communicate with each other. When she and Ye Fashan went to Guan Cheng County, I was worried that they would ruin my plans, but I didn't expect that in the end, she would become a key figure in the entire war. And this Meng Wenhao and Iron Egg, they all contributed greatly to this war. The people around Li Zexuan are really extraordinary! "
I'm not in Jianghu, but Jianghu is full of legends about me.
Now, there is one person who didn't personally go to the battlefield, but the outcome of the war was reversed because of him. This person was Li Zexuan!
Whether it was Ye Fashan and Li Yu working together to secretly visit Guan Cheng, Meng Wenhao and Iron Egg following the army, or Liu Rengui's successful plan of cooperation from the inside and outside, behind all of these, there was more or less Li Zexuan's shadow!
"Father, now that Guan Cheng has been broken, and Chief Steward Li has returned to the capital, there shouldn't be any military matters that need to be communicated by telegram. Therefore, I plan to return to Yanhuang College this afternoon. I hope that father will allow it!"
Li Tai cupped his hands and said.
To be honest, he was really not used to leaving the academy for so many days! Now that the war was over, he naturally wanted to return to Yunshan as soon as possible.
Li Er was stunned and said unhappily, "You child, are you so unwilling to accompany father and mother ~?"
"I don't dare! I just saw the importance of engineering in the Tang Empire from this war. I want to learn it as soon as possible so that I can help father build the country and conquer the world in the future ~! "
Li Tai quickly came up with a reason to shut Li Er's mouth.
Li Er heard this and said happily, "Haha! Good! You are indeed my good son! Then you can go! "
…
The next day, in the east of Guan Cheng County.
After the three armies were assembled, Li Jing gave the order and the army set off. Tens of thousands of soldiers moved in order and returned to the capital!
"Farewell, General Li. General, have a safe journey!"
Unexpectedly, the people of Guan Cheng County were waiting on the road that the army had to pass through early in the morning. Both sides of the street were filled with people who heard the news and rushed over. When the army passed by, countless people shouted loudly.
Now, the people understood that the Cui Family was only using them in the past, not for their own good. If Li Jing didn't lead the army to Guan Cheng County, the people of Guan Cheng County might have lost their lives for Cui Junchuo's personal ambition.
It was Li Jing's army that saved them. Of course, they would be grateful from the bottom of their hearts!
"Wenhao, looking at these people, I now feel that the risks I took in the past half a month were worth it. Otherwise, there would definitely be many children who lost their parents because of the war and become orphans like me ~!"
Little Yu 'er rode on the horse and walked side by side with Meng Wenhao. Hearing the shouts of the people on both sides of the road, she couldn't help but sigh.
Meng Wenhao thought for a while and said, "I also feel that everything I did was worth it. Not only did I save you, but I also saved these people. The Yamachō taught us to have a heart for the world and a life for the people. I did it!"
…
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