Zhang Zhong's words echoed the thoughts of the others who had just regained their composure.
Indeed, they should ask clearly. Before, the Six Zhao were also vassals of the Tang Empire, and they had been conferred the title of King. Now, they were saying that they would submit. If there was no difference from before, it would be useless even if they repeated it a hundred times.
The officials also admired Zhang Zhong for this. Zhang Zhong did not suppress the doubts in his heart just because the people who sent the letters of submission were his relatives. Instead, he treated it as a very important matter to ask.
If the letters of submission sent by the Six Zhao were the same as before, wouldn't Xiao Bao and Cuckoo lose a lot of face?
Li Longji also admired Zhang Zhong's character. Facing the questioning eyes of the officials, he casually said, "It's a little different. In the past, they were called subjects, sent tributes, and returned with more rewards. Now, they don't mention subjects, only submission. Besides the Kings of the Six Zhao, the other important people in charge will be coming to the Tang Empire."
Li Longji said it casually, but the others were not. They were actually sending people over, and important people at that. From His Majesty's words, it seemed that many people were coming. Then, didn't that mean that the Kings of the Six Zhao lacked capable people in management?
How could they develop if they lacked capable people in management? Had the Kings of the Six Zhao all become fools?
"Your Majesty, there's one thing this official doesn't understand. The Kings of the Six Zhao sent their capable subordinates to the capital as hostages. Are they preparing to make their own people suffer?"
Yu Wenrong asked.
Li Longji shook his head, a look of disappointment in his eyes. He looked at the officials one by one and asked, "Do you think that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo went there just to make the lives of the Six Zhao more difficult?"
Jiang Cen stood up and said, "This official absolutely does not believe it. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo are brilliant at scheming, especially Xiao Bao who has the greatest ability in economy and people's livelihood. How could he go there and make people's lives worse? Xiao Bao must have given the Lord of the Six Zhao a generous offer that the Lord of the Six Zhao could not refuse.
What's more, didn't they leave behind two hundred people? I believe that there is no need for this official to say how capable the Inner Courtyards of the Zhang Family and Wang Family are. With them around, what difference does it make whether or not the Lord of the Six Zhao keeps his capable subordinates? Two hundred people are enough to support the administration of the entire Six Zhao Region, and it might even be a waste.
To be honest, if the inner courtyards of the Zhang Clan and Wang Clan participate in the Imperial Examination, countless outstanding High Scholars of Great Tang will fail the examinations and return home. Placing them as local officials, countless local officials would be ashamed to meet people. The reason why the imperial court dares to implement the policy of taking land from local officials with salaries is precisely because of this. "
Li Longji was delighted. His eyes narrowed into a smile as he said to Jiang Cen, "That's right. Since we've taken over the land, then so be it. If the local officials dare to collectively resign, then I'll have the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family and Wang Family take over. Perhaps it'll be even better than before they were dismissed."
"Your Majesty's praise is wrong. My family's servants don't have this kind of ability. I'm afraid." Zhang Zhong hurriedly explained.
"After more than a decade of teaching and nurturing, do you think I don't know what they're capable of? Even before that, when you were appointed as the Provincial Governor of Lu Zhou, you didn't train so many people, right? Your family's inner courtyard is already supporting Lu Zhou's administration and military affairs. Am I wrong? "
Li Longji said bluntly, not giving Zhang Zhong a chance to explain himself.
For a moment, Zhang Zhong did not know how to respond.
Gao Lishi agreed with Li Longji and said, "Later on, we found out that during the disaster relief, Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were the ones who gave the orders. The two of them arranged the resources and manpower in an orderly manner. Unfortunately, apart from them, we can't find another child like them in Great Tang."
"It's just a fluke." Zhang Zhong could not find anything else to say.
"As for whether it's a fluke or not, we'll know by looking at the Six Zhao's submission. I'll continue to tell you. Apart from the capable subordinates of the Six Zhao's master, there are also children under the age of 14, most of them are elderly, and unmarried women.
Those who stayed behind are experienced old men, strong young men, and married women. They're staying behind to build the place.
It's written in the letter of submission that they only brought a small amount of food with them. They've already set off and passed through Yi Province. From there, they'll come to the capital to let me take a look at them before we make other arrangements. They don't have money, and they can't offer anything else in exchange.
We'll have to arrange for their food, clothing, shelter, and transportation along the way. Also, they'll have to receive medical treatment. The people who stayed behind by Xiao Bao and Cuckoo sent a message saying that they'll take care of all the expenses. However, I don't think that's a good idea. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo have done enough. I'll pay for it. Now, I'll need you to make the arrangements. "
Li Longji explained the specific actions of the Six Zhao's submission and then swept his gaze over the crowd with a meaningful smile.
The officials were all dumbfounded. Even Zhang Zhong knew that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were powerful, but they had never imagined that they were this powerful. In just two days, they'd passed by, and all the people from the Six Zhao, including the unmarried women and future children, had migrated to the Great Tang.
This truly was submission. This was true submission. Apart from a few strong young men to work and women to accompany and do housework, the entire tribe had come?
What had the two of them been doing there? Yes, their army of more than ten thousand people was strong enough, but could they just stroll around and cause all the surrounding countries and tribes to kneel down? Wasn't their strength boundless?
Li Longji liked to see the surprised expressions of his officials. He felt very satisfied. Usually, when he protected Xiao Bao and Cuckoo, there would always be people who didn't show it on the surface but were unconvinced. Now, were they convinced?
This was called ability. All of them were surprised because they didn't think they could do it. Now, Xiao Bao and Cuckoo had done it. Next time, if anyone was unconvinced, he would send them to a remote tribe that had not yet submitted.
I don't need you to go over a few days to solve the problem and make them submit. I'll give you half a year to see if you can do it. If you can do it in half a year, I'll protect you when you come back. If you can't do it, you can continue to stay there. I don't need you to hang around in front of me.
"Who wants to take charge of this? Now, give me a plan and budget. I'll listen to it, "Li Longji said calmly.
The officials were silent.
Zhang Zhong hesitated for a moment and reached for the microphone. Before he could touch it, His Majesty's voice sounded, "Yongcheng, take care of the Ministry of Works. I don't need you for other things."
Zhang Zhong retracted his hand and sat there obediently.
"Speak. It's time to need you all. Who can tell me a plan and how much budget is needed? I'll pay." Li Longji continued to press.
"Your Majesty, there's not enough time. Why don't we discuss it in a few days? We can make arrangements after that." An official sitting in a lower position felt that His Majesty was forcing them, so he mustered up his courage to speak.
Li Longji sneered and said, "Not enough time? Do you dare to say this in front of Xiao Bao and Cuckoo? When I asked the two of them for a plan, I never received such an answer. They always immediately came up with a plan for me. Moreover, it was a complete set of plans.
Lishi knows best. As long as Xiao Bao and Cuckoo are by my side, regardless of whether it's me, Lishi, the Empress, or Concubine Hui who ask, have they ever hesitated? Yongcheng, what about when you ask? "
"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject doesn't need to ask. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo only need to look at this subject's complexion and ask the servants about this subject's general itinerary and the people I've met today. They will know why this subject is distressed, so they will tell this subject how to deal with it. Furthermore, the two of them will complete the plan one by one."
Zhang Zhong said proudly.
"Did you hear that?" Li Longji asked.
All the officials were silent and had nothing to say. His Majesty was comparing Xiao Bao and Cuckoo to them. What else could they say? Were the two of them even human? The two of them were doing things that defied the heavens and couldn't be measured with common sense.
Li Longji leaned back and said, "No one said anything. Recently, there have been people in the streets getting beaten up because these people say that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo ran to the border to raise troops and maintain self-respect. They're vaguely dividing the borders from the imperial court. Who instigated this? Raising troops and maintaining self-respect? Don't tell me they're not self-respect?
What borders? My country is counting on the two of them to properly govern it. There's no need to divide. If anyone has the ability to make the two of them rebel, I'll give the dragon chair under my butt to that person. "
With a crash, all the officials stood up and returned to their seats. One by one, they knelt on the ground. At this time, if they didn't express their attitude, it would be very easy for them to be shot dead by the hidden snipers.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that our colleagues in the imperial court won't do such a wrong thing. I hope …"
"You shut up. They're bullying you, yet you're still pleading for leniency." Li Longji scolded Zhang Zhong.
Zhang Zhong could only shut up. The others didn't think that His Majesty was angry at Zhang Zhong. Rather than calling it a reprimand, it was actually another kind of protection.
Li Longji didn't let the crowd rise. He leisurely sipped his tea and said, "I know that you didn't arrange for people to incite, but I also know that some people are playing the game of watching the fire burn across the river.
The people who incited this matter are a little stupid. In the Great Tang, they spread the news of possible disagreements between Xiao Bao and Cuckoo. They even went to the teahouse and the entrance of the zoo to spread the news. They were almost caught and fed to the animals by the zoo people.
They beat them up and sent them to the capital office. I didn't get any information from you, so the people who were caught weren't even sentenced. Some people are hiding behind the scenes to watch the show, but why don't you think about it? Don't I have my own spy system? Are the spies of the Zhang Family and Wang Family just decorations?
They didn't say anything because they were waiting for me to deal with it. I didn't say anything because I was waiting for you to say something. Did a small group of people think that I would listen to their words and transfer Xiao Bao and Cuckoo back? Did they think that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would stop moving forward after knowing about this matter?
I didn't even have time to greet Xiao Bao and Cuckoo. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo didn't care either. Their speed of advancement was still so fast. Their personal guards were so adapted to the environment and terrain.
You have disappointed me too much. When Xiao Bao and Cuckoo come back, I will personally talk to them. When the time comes, the knife will fall on anyone's head. Don't say that I don't care about others' feelings. Innocent plus five ranks. Don't you think so, Yongcheng? "
The newcomers didn't know what was going on. They only knew that His Majesty was angry. From His Majesty's words, it seemed that someone had instigated the relationship between Xiao Bao and Cuckoo, and someone in the court had acquiesced. But the result was obviously different from what those people had expected. His Majesty and Xiao Bao didn't care, and the instigator was beaten by the people.
The person who was beaten was indeed very stupid. What a joke to spread this in the Great Tang.
Everyone began to look at Zhang Zhong to see what he would say. Just as His Majesty said, His Majesty's intelligence department knew, so the spies of the Zhang Family and Wang Family couldn't not know.
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