Chapter 38 I, Wei Xuancheng, have always persuaded people with reason

The assassinations of Chen Ying, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Gao Shilian have all failed, although the guards of the Yuan Sui Forbidden Army around Fang Xuanling and Gao Shilian did not leave a living mouth, but the assassination of Wei Zheng and Chen Ying left a living mouth.

Dai Xuan knows the depth of the water inside, however, he is definitely not a fearful official, although he did not use torture, some things cannot be denied, the assassin who assassinated Chen Ying was one of Feng Deyi's concubines, Xue Nu with the blood of the Yan Dynasty.

Although Chen Ying doesn't know Xue Nu, there are many people in Chang'an City who know Xue Nu, this Xue Nu is good at blowing Xiao, can sing and dance, Feng Deyi usually shows off Xue Nu to the magnates in Chang'an.

As for the assassin who assassinated Wei Zheng, he also confessed to the person behind the scenes under Dai Jia's interrogation.

Li Jiancheng set up a banquet for Chen Ying, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Gao Shilian were shocked, and during the banquet, Li Anyan came to announce: "Your Majesty, the assassin has confessed, he was hired by Feng Daomao, a son of the Feng family, to assassinate Wei Zheng." The person who assassinated Chen Xiangguo was Feng Deyi's concubine......"

Li Jiancheng was taken aback and said, "Feng family? ”

Li Anyan said: "Your Majesty, it is true that the accomplice confessed by the assassin has been caught.

Li Jiancheng was so angry that he said like thunder: "I just gave so many rewards to the Feng family, and they actually dare to kill my humerus minister?" Come on, all the children of the Feng family will be imprisoned and governed, and find out who is involved! ”

"Wait!"

Li Jiancheng followed the prestige, only to see Chen Ying make a voice.

Wei Zheng looked at Chen Ying suspiciously.

Chen Ying smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, if you can not kill people, try not to kill people!" ”

Li Jiancheng said: "Such a chaotic minister and thief, not killing is not enough to make the people angry!" ”

Chen Ying looked at Li Jiancheng and said, "Dare to ask Your Majesty, how many people and households does Datang have now?" ”

Li Jiancheng said without thinking: "The four major capitals of the Tang Dynasty have 367 prefectures, a total of 3,074,097 households, and more than 20 million and 437,000 people. ”

"Your Majesty, the territory of the Tang Dynasty is now more than twice as large as that of the former Sui Dynasty!" Chen Ying smiled bitterly: "Since ancient times, the Great Dynasty has been in charge of Dingkou, and only the strong man is prosperous. In some states and counties, officials deliberately reduce the household registration for hidden taxes, and so on the other hand, and finally summarize the household department, and the ministers of the court and the central government will modify and add or delete according to the emperor's likes and dislikes at that time and the needs of the current situation, and the final figure obtained is recorded in the annals of history, that is, the person who presented it to the monarch on the same day, and this number can only be used as the monarch to participate in the prison, and it cannot be the original number. ”

When Li Jiancheng heard this, he was shocked. In fact, when the Tang Dynasty captured Guanzhong from Hedong, did it not find that it has been unified today, but the number of household registrations is less than one-third of that of the previous dynasty, and more than two-thirds of the population has disappeared.

Where did these populations go, Chen Ying was relieved when he thought about the practices of the census in later generations, in fact, in the harsh era of family planning, almost every village had black households. Thousands of years later, how can we expect the ancients to be far behind in statistical technology?

Chen Ying looked at Li Jiancheng and explained: "Generally speaking, political leniency leads to the gradual appearance of the household registration, and political harshness gradually leads to the gradual fading of the household registration. Why? Political leniency and benevolence, those who are registered in the household registration are above board, can be protected by the law, have a basis for doing business, have meritorious service in joining the army, and have more benefits, so the household registration is gradually revealed; If the politics are harsh, the law does not protect the people, the way to enter the government is not smooth, and those who are registered in the household registration are exploited, and there are many disadvantages, so the household registration gradually disappears. ”

Li Jiancheng was shocked in his heart, although it was said that the wars in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties were frequent, but in fact, the statistics of all the battles in the world, the casualties were actually very limited, the battle of Shallow Water Plateau, the battle of Luoyang, the rebellion of Liu Wuzhou in Hedong and the rebellion of Hebei and Jianghuai, these five battles were major defeats since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, but the loss of soldiers in the five wars was worth 200,000 soldiers, but the population of Guanzhong has decreased from the peak of four or five million people to more than three million now, nearly two million people have disappeared in the middle, and the population of other states and counties has disappeared even more.

Li Jiancheng had to admit and nodded: "In the past few years, the household registration has gradually disappeared. ”

"Yes!" Chen Ying did not shy away from the protection: "Guanzhong Dingkou number, to the first year of Wude was extremely prosperous, not only the people of Guanzhong, but also from Hedong to Hedong more than 50,000 households, Luoyang moved into more than 30,000 households, since the first year of Wude Zong Luohu into Jingyang after seven years, Dingkou is becoming more and more complicated, and the government is getting worse, the law does not protect the people, the officials seek to reduce the taxes paid to self-fertilizer, the people seek to evade taxes and evade to protect themselves, so they are often hidden in the three ways. ”

Li Jiancheng was silent.

Chen Ying's subconscious meaning, he understood. Although Guanzhong did not experience war, its population was declining sharply, a full two million people in just seven years, and these people were not killed or starved to death, but hidden. The fundamental reason for the hiding of the population is actually very simple, that is, major cases and key points occur frequently, Wu Dechu, the founding father Liu Wenjing's rebellion, Li conspired against the case, Dou Jiande's rebellion, Xuanwumen, and now the Feng clan, such a big and important case, once it breaks out, it will implicate tens of thousands of people, and even if these people are not killed on the spot, they will find ways to escape.

When Chen Ying said this, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Gao Shilian were all silent, they thought about it, and looked at Chen Ying's gaze, which became a little different.

Li Jiancheng frowned and said, "Could it be that Wu Delu is regarded as an ornament?" ”

Chen Ying shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, in troubled times, you should use heavy codes, now is not a troubled time, so if you can kill less, try to kill as little as possible, even if it is a heinous crime, it should be pardoned, let them atone for their sins with their own practical actions!" ”

Chen Ying's purpose is still very simple, that is, for the sake of the population, it is too difficult to migrate the population to the Western Regions, Liaodong and others, and now the population of Guanzhong is actually far from saturated, and it has not exceeded the bearing capacity of the land.

However, new places like the Western Regions and Andong must be immigrated to Shibian, otherwise they will not be able to defend it at all.

Finally, Li Jiancheng nodded heavily.

……

Chang'an City, Fengfu. A large group of forbidden troops surrounded the Fengfu, and the soldiers of the Praetorian Guards surrounded the Fengfu with three layers inside and three layers outside, and the water could not be passed.

A waiter held a holy note and read in front of the church: "...... The crime is unforgivable, and it should be punished, and he has made meritorious contributions in the first examination, so the serious crime is lightly punished, and from now on, he will be removed from the post of Feng Daoyan and Ma Duwei, the prison gate and the direct cabinet, and the post of general of Yangwu, and he will be assigned to the Western Regions, and he will learn a lesson in the future and take it as a warning......

Feng Daoyan clenched his fists hard, and a gleam appeared in his eyes.

The nephew of the Feng family was tied up and escorted out of the mansion.

There was a cry in the sealed mansion.

The people in the surrounding neighborhood stood on a high place and watched.

An audience member who looked like a scholar sighed: "The patriarch of the three dynasties, when the dynasty is the prime minister, the bones are not cold, and the family is locked up by the court, and the court and the emperor are inevitably a little too unkind." ”

A few people around him also chimed in.

……

In Chang'an City, in Qujiang Fang, on the side of Qujiang Pond, in an inconspicuous courtyard, at this time in Chang'an City, the Guanzhong clan gate valve has a head and a face, all invited to come, Wen Xi Pei's representative, the former Shangshu Zuo servant, the son of the current Sikong Pei Lone, Pei lawyer.

The representative of the Changsun clan in Luoyang is the eldest grandson Anye.

Luoyang Yuan represents Yuan Hongren.

Jingzhao Merriam-Webster represents Wei Shen.

The Liu clan of Hedong represents Liu Yannian.

The Dugu clan in the clouds represents solitary cultivation.

Tianshui Zhao represents Zhao Mu.

Luoyang Yu represents Yu Gongquan.

The representatives of the Guanlong clan gathered together, and everyone was whispering. At this moment, Yu Wenhua and his birth were in the lobby, and the eldest grandson Anye hurriedly got up and said: "Everyone be quiet, please have the first lecture!" ”

Yu Wenhua slowly scanned everyone with his eyes that seemed to be like poisonous snakes.

Everyone bowed their heads unconsciously, and no one dared to look at Yu Wenhua.

After a long time, Yu Wenhua slowly spoke: "Since the change of Xuanwumen, the faint monarch has no way, the credit of the ministers, the poison of the family, the death of the old ministers, the persecution of the bereaved family, now people are swordsmen, I am fish and meat, do you sit back and wait for death, or stand up to defend the community?" ”

The representatives of the gate lords of all the clans shouted in unison: "Qing Jun's side, punish the traitorous ministers!" ”

Yu Wenhua angrily raised a dagger and roared fiercely: "Who is the faint king?" ”

The delegates shouted in unison: "Li Jiancheng! ”

Yu Wenhua and said: "Who is the traitor? ”

The delegates shouted in unison: "Chen Ying! ”

As the saying goes, cutting off people's financial means is like killing their parents. Originally, the Guanzhong clan took advantage of the opportunity of the drought in Guanzhong to raise the price of grain in Guanzhong, and originally wanted to make a lot of money. Unexpectedly, Chen Ying actually used his own way to give back to others. Chen Ying also did the same game, this bureau was set up more cleverly than them, and all the gate valves of the middle family were put into it at once.

They ate nearly 2 million stone of grain from Chen Ying's hands at a high price, and as a result, Chen Ying suppressed the price of grain to 10 wen per bucket, with a net loss of 780 wen per stone of grain, and the loss of more than 5 million stone of grain they originally stocked was as high as 4 million yuan, which was almost 80% of Datang's annual tax revenue.

The collective property of the entire Guanzhong clan has shrunk by one-third, and the fields, houses, and shops inherited from their ancestors have all been auctioned off by Chen Ying in Chang'an City. In just half a year's effort, Chen Ying dug up at least seven or eight million pieces of meat from the Guanzhong clan gate valve.

At this time, if you want to ask who the Guanzhong clan gate lord hates the most, in fact, Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng, who have dismissed officials, are not on the list, and the number one target is Chen Ying.

The representatives of the world clan continued to roar: "And Wei Zheng! Fang Xuanling......"

Yu Wenhua suddenly put the dagger on the desk and looked at everyone and shouted: "Today, our families and clans are allied by blood, advancing and retreating together, and living and dying together!" ”

The delegates shouted in unison: "Advance and retreat together!" Life and death together! ”

……

In the palace of the king of Yi'an County, Chang'an, dozens of people such as kings, dukes, and marquis of the Li clan gathered together.

Li Shentong, the king of Huai'an, looked at the clans and said bitterly: "Now that Gu is can see it, there is nothing to say, Dalang is another Yang Guang, the country laid down by the Emperor Taishang, and he is about to be defeated in his hands." ”

Li Xiaochang said indignantly: "He is not even as good as Yang Guang, after Yang Guang becomes the emperor, he will not persecute the clan, cripple his siblings, and not cut his own wings." ”

Li Shentong looked around at the Li clan relatives sitting around, and said slowly: "All of you here are all the people with heads and faces in our Li family's clansmen, and now the titles of each family have changed from the county king to the county prince, maybe after a while, it will continue to fall, and then the next thing is to raid the family and kill the head......"

Li Zhan, the king of Shu, said indignantly: "The old man has an old bone, half of his body has been buried in the ground, and he is not afraid of His Majesty today, so he put the knife on the old man's neck." To put it plainly, forced the unconscious monarch to abdicate and welcomed the emperor to reinstate. ”

Li Zhan, the king of Shu, was Li Yuan's second brother.

The Li family clansmen immediately echoed with emotion.

Li Shentong stood up and gestured to everyone to be quiet, and after a long time, Li Shentong continued: "Everyone, don't be impatient. ”

Li Xiaochang was puzzled and said, "King Huai'an, what are we waiting for?" ”

Li Shen channel: "Now everything is ready, only the east wind is owed, as long as there is another person from our Li family who is willing to join, the big thing will be done!" ”

Li Zhan asked, "Who else is missing?" ”

Li Shendao: "King of Hejian County, Li Xiaogong!" ”

……

In the early morning, at the door of the Ministry of Southern Ya Officials, there was a dense crowd of people, these people were wearing their own official uniforms, and at the front were thousands of eight- and nine-grade petty officials wearing cyan official uniforms and wearing stones, followed by six- and seven-grade officials wearing green official uniforms and silver ornaments on their heads.

Standing at the end, there were hundreds of fourth- and fifth-grade officials wearing crimson official uniforms and silverfish bags. There are even dozens of Sanpin officials wearing vermilion purple official uniforms and hanging goldfish bags at the back.

The officials raised their arms and shouted, "Why should we be dismissed?

"If Datang wants to stabilize the world, doesn't it need talents?"

"The birds are all gone, the good bow is hidden, the cunning rabbit is dead, and the lackeys are cooking!"

"Is this a human being?"

"Are you really not afraid of five thunderbolts from the sky?"

"Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling are traitors and rebels who have brought disaster to the country and the people."

Fang Xuanling is ruthless enough, there are more than 3,800 officials in Chang'an, and he has dismissed 3,000 people in one go.

More than 3,000 civil officials gathered outside the officials' headquarters and questioned and scolded in unison.

The loud sound startled a large flock of crows and birds.

A scholar Shi came in with a sad face and reported: "Wei ...... Appearance...... Xiangguo, he couldn't get out, and those civil officials who made trouble blocked the front and back gates. ”

Wei Zheng put down the paperwork, got up and stood at the window and looked out.

Gao Shilian pulled Wei Zheng's sleeve with a pale face and said, "Xuan Cheng, shouldn't there be any death?" Why don't you see the forbidden army to protect us? ”

Wei Zheng patted Gao Shilian on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, what kind of big scene is this, what should I do, Xuan Ling and I, go out and meet them for a while." ”

Fang Xuanling smiled slightly: "That's what I mean!" ”

Thousands of civil servants and officials crowded the gate of Shangshu Province with great enthusiasm.

The crowd either scolded, or beat their chests, or cried and grabbed the ground.

The door slowly opened, and Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling appeared in front of everyone.

More than a dozen Ling Shi moved out of the hall and took out two cases and a large number of documents.

Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling remained silent amid the noise and curses of everyone.

Let the historians put a good case.

Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling sat down straight.

Wei Zheng shouted loudly: "Who thinks that the imperial court is unfair, and those who want to theorize, come over one by one, and Xuan Ling and I will accompany you to the end." ”

The officials who were clamoring suddenly perked up.

An official dressed in scarlet stepped forward and stood in front of Wei Zheng.

"The court has handled me unfairly."

Wei Zheng said without giving in: "What's your surname?" Where do you work? What's wronged? ”

The scarlet official said: "Qiao Yong, Shangshu Province, a member of the Ministry of Civil Affairs." ”

Wei Zheng quickly rummaged through Qiao Yong's file in the high-stacked papers.

Fang Xuanling's face sank, and he shouted coldly: "What's wrong? ”

Qiao Yong snorted coldly and said, "Fang is participating in politics, this is a knowingly question. Qiao Mou has been serving in the Ministry of Civil Affairs since Taiyuan, serving in the Ministry of Finance, Wude for five years, and being promoted to a member of the Ministry of Gold, diligent and diligent, serving the court for ten years. According to my qualifications, I, Qiao, could have been promoted to Jinbu Langzhong a long time ago, but I didn't dare to be proud of my achievements, and I still fulfilled my duties. Instead of encouraging me, the court dismissed me from my official position. Xiangguo, Youcheng, may I ask me Qiao, which law of the court did you disobey? What law of the imperial court was violated? Is it because of my Qiao that I didn't go to Baishanmen to serve?

The hundred officials behind were suddenly in an uproar and scolded.

Wei Zheng took out a document and threw it in front of Qiao Yong and said, "Take a look for yourself." ”

Qiao Yong looked disdainful, picked up the paper, and after reading the two lines, his face changed greatly, and the more he looked, the paler his face became.

Wei Zheng shouted: "Qiao Yong, as the head of the Ministry of Jin, your daily duties are the gifts of hundreds of officials, military towns, and guests, and you have repeatedly withheld the rewards awarded by the imperial court to officials, among them, the rewards of Du Fuwei, the king of Wu, have almost been swallowed up by you. In order to cover up the crime, you and your subordinates colluded with each other to get up and down. The court deposed you today, and tomorrow the criminal officer of Dali Temple will come to visit. ”

Qiao Yong's face suddenly turned earthy.

Fang Xuanling said expressionlessly: "Next." ”

The officials hesitated.

PS: I need to catch the train today, Lao Cheng's laptop hard drive is broken, and there is no money to buy a new one for the time being, who is proficient in computers, help guide me in the group, which laptop is the best cost-effective.