Tibet

Chapter 1005 Wanting to impose a crime
Shi Zhou Shouliang, governor of Deng, fled to Chang'an. He refused to be loyal to Liang Chongyi and fled to Chang'an with his family in an ox cart on the eve of the Lantern Festival.

He was not the first Jingxiang official to flee to Chang'an. A large number of Jingxiang officials resigned and left under the threat of Liang Chongyi.

But every Jingxiang official who fled to Chang'an had to undergo identity verification by the Yushitai, and Zhou Shouliang was no exception.

That morning, a censor hurriedly came to Zhongcheng Jingyu's official room and handed an audit report to Jingyu.

"Jing Zhongcheng, this is the review report of Governor Deng Shi Zhou Shouliang."

Jing Yu didn't have the intention to read it carefully, so he flipped through it casually and asked, "Is there any special situation?"

"Basically there are no special circumstances, it's relatively normal."

"Who is he behind the scenes in Chang'an?"

"Xiangguo Li Xian, when Li Xiangguo was appointed as the governor of Nanyang, Zhou Shouliang was a confidant of Li Xiangguo's staff and was recommended by Li Xiangguo as the governor of Deng."

Jing Yu's heart moved, and he brought him a pillow just as he was dozing off. God's will!
The emperor hinted that he had a handle to arrest the prime minister Li Xian. He didn't know where to start. Wasn't this coming?
Jing Yu immediately ordered: "Send him to Dizihao Prison!"

This is not used to interrogate prisoners, but to intimidate the offending officials. After watching the entire process, they are then tied up with ropes and stuffed into water jars. There are no officials who will not recruit them.

"Jing Zhongcheng, isn't this appropriate?"

Jing Yu's eyes widened, "How about you become the Zhongcheng!"

The men were shocked. Dizihao Prison is a place for serious criminals. They were only checking the authenticity of officials. How could it turn into an arrest?

"Then let him taste the pot of water and fire, and he will be cooked without any help."

Pei Sheng agreed and hurried away.
Zhou Shouliang never dreamed that he would be punished so cruelly because he refused to be loyal to Liang Chongyi and fled back to the court. When he saw a prisoner being cooked alive, he immediately became paralyzed with fear and told everything he knew about Li Xian They all confessed honestly.

Secondly, appointing officials privately without the consent of the Ministry of Personnel is the power of officials. What Li Ye got red-faced when negotiating with the court was the power of officials in Bashu. Li Xian actually did something that even Li Ye did not dare to do in private. This is also a mortal sin.

Others, accepting a little money and a few pieces of calligraphy and painting, are all minor issues and not important. The three charges sorted out by Jing Yu involve supporting soldiers to support one's own self-reliance, which is a major crime of rebellion.

Jing Yu sorted out three major crimes against Li Xian. First, he minted money without the permission of the imperial court. In fact, this was something that all Jiedushi envoys did. It would depend on whether the imperial court would pursue him or not. Once he did, it would be a serious crime.

"I don't dare to be humble! I don't dare to be humble!"

Not long after, Pei Sheng, the trial officer of Yushitai, rushed over and said, "See Jing Zhongcheng!"

Jing Yu approved a case handling order and handed it to him, "This week Zhou Shouliang, you will be in charge of the interrogation. He is Li Xian's confidant and must know Li Xian's background. If he doesn't do anything, I will give him the seven major punishments in turn." Leave him alone."

The water-fire urn was invented by Lai Junchen, who invited the king to enter the urn. First, he tied the person up and stuffed him head down into a large urn filled with water. Then he roasted the person over fire. When the water boiled, the person became cooked.

Pei Sheng hesitated and said, "I'm afraid he won't be able to survive the seven punishments. No one has ever been able to survive. He will die!"

Third, tax reductions and exemptions without the consent of the emperor were a sign of Li Xian's love for the people, but the power of tax reductions and exemptions was in the hands of the emperor. In fact, this was one of the key points in Li Ye's negotiations with the court, the right to set taxes. Of course it is also a mortal sin.

The official was so frightened that he quickly retreated. Jing Yu ordered again: "Let Pei Sheng come to see me!"

What's more important is that it is very detailed. When and what things were done, the time, place, and events are all very detailed and can't be relied upon.

On the same day, Jing Yu submitted the impeachment letter to Emperor Li Heng.

Li Heng immediately issued an order to suspend Li Xian from all his duties, and Pei Zunqing, the right prime minister, questioned Li Xian according to the impeachment document. Interrogation is a process for interrogating senior officials. Generally, the superior will question the contents of the impeachment document. If the contents of the impeachment document are acknowledged, the official will be dismissed directly. If he insists that he does not admit it, a three-chamber trial will be formed to conduct detailed verification.

In the room, Pei Zunqing walked in and sat opposite Li Xian. He looked at Li Xian for a moment and said: "I came to question Li Xiangguo on a few matters according to the emperor's order. It is strictly business. Please don't take it seriously!"

Li Xian was a little depressed. He shook his head and said, "I don't care anymore. Please ask me!"

"Does Li Xiangguo know Zhou Shouliang?"

Li Xian was startled, nodded and said: "He used to be my staff, and I recommend him to be the governor of Deng."

Pei Zunqing handed him a copy of Zhou Shouliang's confession and the censor's impeachment letter, "He fell into Jing Yu's hands and explained a lot. You can see for yourself!"

Li Xian was immediately furious, "The imperial court requires the Yushitai to verify the identity of officials, not to put them to death."

"You read it first, and you'll understand after reading it."

Li Xian read the confession carefully, and the more he read, the more horrified he became. He even revealed that he had received a gift worth twenty taels of silver. What kind of cruel punishment would he have to suffer before his will completely collapses.

At this time, Li Xian understood that there were many officials who had escaped from Jingxiang, but only Zhou Shouliang was tortured, because he had been his staff, and Jing Yu was targeting him.

Li Xian read the impeachment document again. He sighed and said, "Whatever Pei Xiangguo wants to ask, just ask!"

Pei Zunqing asked in a deep voice: "Does Li Xiangguo admit to the three charges listed in the impeachment document?"

Li Xian nodded, "I admit, it is indeed true!"

Pei Zunqing was startled. He didn't expect Li Xian to answer so cheerfully. He said in a deep voice, "Can Li Xiangguo explain? Why do you do these things that violate the basic system of the imperial court?"

Li Xian sneered, "The emperor wanted to move the capital, but he was afraid that I would oppose him, so he asked the Yushitai to accuse me. If he wanted to incriminate me, why bother? I have nothing to explain."

Pei Zunqing looked at Li Xian for a long time and slowly pushed the pen and ink to him.

Li Xian picked up a pen and signed his name on the confession and impeachment documents. He threw the pen away and faced the wall, becoming silent.

Pei Zunqing nodded, "Li Xiangguo, go home!"

Li Xian sighed, "If Adou can't help him, what does it have to do with Zhuge?"

He got up and left the room, then walked away
That night, the emperor Li Heng issued a decree to remove Li Xian from the post of Prime Minister and demote him to Sima of Yuezhou.

At the same time, the emperor appointed Du Hongjian, the minister of the Ministry of War, as his servant, and he was the same as Zhongshu's servant.

Removing Li Xian from the phase also eliminated a huge stone that opposed the move of the capital. Li Heng immediately issued an order and appointed Guo Ziyi, the governor of Henan Province, to concurrently serve as the defense envoy of the Eastern Capital. He led an army of 30,000 to the Eastern Capital to clean up the palaces and improve public security.

At the same time, Li Heng secretly instigated Taichang Qing Li Yu to publicly submit a letter requesting that the capital be moved to Luoyang on the grounds that Guanzhong was short of food and the situation in Jianghuai and Hebei was out of control.

To test the tone of officials.

Li Heng's plan to move the capital was implemented step by step in an orderly manner.

(End of this chapter)