Chapter 52: Rumors Spread
As the most economically developed and most densely populated city in the world, Chang'an City is very large. In this era of transportation, it took several hours to go from east to west.
Chang'an City is very small, and the people have been very gossip since ancient times. With the promotion of some people who are interested, it took only half a day to beat Fusang envoys in Wannian County to spread in Chang'an City, and instantly became a tea talk for the people of Chang'an.
In Yang Fan's opinion, the attack on the envoy of Fusang State was just a simple fight. There were several incidents in Chang'an City every day, so he did not take it seriously.
Besides, he had analyzed the pros and cons of sending the Tang envoy and the disposal. As for how to do it, it was not something he could decide, so he never thought about the sequelae of this matter.
There were few entertainment activities at night in ancient times. After dinner, Yang Fan walked around the mansion as usual. When he passed by the front yard, he vaguely heard the servants in the mansion sitting together and whispering, his tone was a little disturbing.
"Have you heard that, it's now rumored that our uncle beat Fusang envoy to destroy diplomatic relations between the two countries. Do you think the prince will be punished by the court?"
"Today I went out with my grandson, of course I knew what was going on. Those Fusang people were causing trouble first, so why should we punish our grandson?"
"Oh, preventing smallpox plague and opening a shop to provide relief to refugees is so good to the servants in the mansion. The young master is a great charity, and of course I don't want the young master to have trouble."
"Yes, our young master is a living Bodhisattva, and many people have set up the eternal card for him!"
"It must be those bad guys who are jealous of our young master who take it out of context to slander him."
...
Hearing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but frown. It was no secret that he beat the envoy, and he did not want to deliberately conceal it.
However, in ancient times, when the information transmission speed was very slow, something was wrong when it was spread so quickly. It was obvious that someone was making small moves behind the scenes.
Who is it?
The aristocratic family, the Duke of Yingguo, or princes such as Li You and Li Tai.
Alas..., sighed. Yang Fan did not expect that he had only traveled to the Tang Dynasty for more than half a year. He was usually cautious and unknowingly got into so many troubles.
While he was blinded, he finally realized the importance of intelligence. Now he can only stop the soldiers and cover the water and soil.
However, this incident also made him secretly more vigilant. In feudal society, it is not like he could spend his whole life safely without causing trouble.
Besides, he could never rely on Li Shimin for the rest of his life. Only when he is strong in this world is really strong. It seems that he has to prepare early, otherwise he will lose sight of one thing once danger comes.
If a relative has some shortcomings because of his own negligence, he will really regret it.
After so long in the Tang Dynasty, Yang Fan has always looked at the world with a game-playing attitude. Now, after thinking about it seriously, he realized that so many people had gathered around him, and he had to be responsible for these people. Finally, he returned to the bedroom in a heavy mood.
But he didn't know that the beating of Fusang envoy had spread throughout Chang'an City at this time, and the incident had changed drastically.
Especially under the deliberate guidance of some people with ulterior motives, it has become another version.
"You know, Wannian County Boss, right, it is the Count who provided the court with the prevention of smallpox plague. Today, he was met by Fusang envoys in Chang'an City and was blocked by Fusang envoys. He actually crippled Fusang envoys. I have a friend who works as a job in Chang'an County, and he saw it with his own eyes."
"I also heard that Wannian County Bo was so arrogant that he had ruined the Fusang envoy. It was fine if a foreigner was a member of the tribe. The poor girl was directly arrested and ravaged to the mansion. I don't know how it is now."
"No wonder people in Chang'an City call this count Bangchui. They angrily broke into the Duke's Mansion because of a woman and beat Duke Ying. Unexpectedly, he was also a lustful person. If His Majesty hadn't thought of him, he would have dealt with him long ago."
"Shh, whisper, don't talk, be careful that Wannian County will demolish your house tomorrow."
For a time, all kinds of rumors spread in Chang'an City, and Yang Fan, the Wannian County Magistrate, suddenly became a lustful person who bullies men and women.
The next day, before dawning, there were already figures floating in the Tai Chi Hall.
Although today is just a small dynasty meeting, the atmosphere seems to be a little wrong. The ministers came to the Tai Chi Hall and discussed it in groups of three or three. This phenomenon is extremely rare.
Li Shimin was walking and strolling with great enthusiasm. Under the guidance of the eunuch, he sat on the dragon throne and saw the hustle and bustle of Tai Chi Hall like a vegetable market. He couldn't help but frown.
The old eunuch's loud voice announced that the court meeting began, and soon a censor stood up.
"Report to Your Majesty, I am going to impeach Yang Fan, Wannian County Bo, today, and ask Your Majesty to depose him to the common people for his crime."
"Why did Du Qing's family impeach Wannian County Majesty? What's the reason?"
Seeing the censor Du Feng stand up, Li Shimin couldn't help but frown.
This Du Feng is a child of the Du family in the south of the city. Relying on the power of his family, he always thinks he is self-righteous.
He often causes trouble for him under the banner of serving the country and the people, which has always caused Li Shimin a headache. It can be said that he is not as easy as Wei Zheng.
Du Feng thought about his words and said:
"Your Majesty, Yang Fan is the county magistrate. He has a fief for the court on weekdays. He should have set an example to do good deeds and behave well so that the people can live and work in peace. However, yesterday, he teased good women in Chang'an City and did a lot of evil things, which caused a very bad impact. Secondly, the Fusang envoy stopped Yang Fan but failed and was beaten and disabled, which aroused strong opposition from the envoys and students of the vassal states..."
Li Shimin suddenly felt unhappy. He had already dealt with this matter yesterday. Why is Du Feng still making trouble now? Besides, the narrative is completely opposite to the facts. Could anyone add to the fire later?
Although it was a fact that Yang Fan beat the deputy envoy of Fusang State, he had never teased any good women. As for the Fusang envoy to stop Yang Fan from doing evil, it would be even more irrelevant.
However, Yang Fan is a kid who loves and hates people, and he is very capable of causing trouble. He can't calm down every few days. It seems that he has to arrange an errand for him as soon as possible.
He rubbed his temples with some headaches. The Tang Dynasty did not say that he was guilty of his words, and he also wanted to see who the person behind the scenes was.
So Li Shimin had to ask patiently: "Du Aiqing, Wannian County Bo teased a good woman and beat Fusang envoy, but did you see it with your own eyes?"
"Your Majesty, I am... Although I am not seeing it with my own eyes, it is based on..."
"Don't tell me anything, but I'll ask if you have seen it with your own eyes? Has it been investigated and verified."
Li Shimin interrupted him toughly and saw Du Feng stammeringly, of course he knew that he was a little shrimp who was used as a gun. He glanced at the ministers and bowed his head and liked him. He never saw anyone who stood up for Du Feng.
So he continued to shout with some displeasure:
"As a censor, we should use facts as the basis. If we only take the rumors and false rumors to the court to waste time, it is simply a waste of food. How can we satisfy the expectations of the people and the trust of the court?"
I ask the Censor to report the news and be upright, but it is not for you to discuss all the messy things in court.
"Your Majesty, I don't know whether Wannian County Bo teased good women, but it is an indisputable fact that he beat the envoy of Fusang and destroyed the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Here are joint petitions from envoys of various vassal states. I believe that most of them are true. Your Majesty can send someone to verify."
When Du Feng was a little unable to resist, the old troll Wei Zheng finally stood up, which surprised Li Shimin. He really didn't expect that the person who stood up for Du Feng would be this old troll.
Changsun Wuji secretly gave Du Feng a look of praise. This petition for envoys of the vassal state was a thing made by the Guanlong family represented by Changsun Wuji.
The purpose is to test Yang Fan's position in Li Shimin's heart. Du Feng is just a small chess piece launched by the Guanlong family, and the old troll Wei Zheng is the gunman they planned.
Du Feng made an indelible contribution to this joint petition being able to arrive at Wei Zheng as soon as possible.
Wei Zheng is famous for his favorite direct advice. If he is targeted by him, trouble will not be eliminated. Even Li Shimin doesn't like dealing with this old troll.
When Li Jiancheng was aide, Wei Zheng suggested that Li Jiancheng take action to kill Li Shimin first, but unfortunately Li Jiancheng missed the opportunity indecisively.
After becoming emperor, Li Shimin left Wei Zheng in the court to value it, on the one hand, it was to cherish talent, and on the other hand, it was to stabilize the court.
Li Shimin's meaning was very obvious at the beginning: "Please rest assured by the former prince's supporters. I can even tolerate the number one villain like Wei Zheng. What else do you have to worry about? Don't have any bad thoughts and just surrender to me."
In fact, as a person who can ascend to the position of prime minister, no one is simple. Wei Zheng is not bad at abilities and has a flexible mind, and he doesn't stand up and sing a counter-topic with Li Shimin in everything.
The reason why he changed his style of a counselor and became a silly man, always exhorting Li Shimin in a head-on manner is because risking his life to speak out was Wei Zheng's way of survival.
Chapter completed!