Datang: I am the prince of salted fish, I impeach Li Er at the beginning

Chapter 34 Going to court?Just looking for a dead end!
Hearing Hou Junji's cry for injustice, Li Shimin turned his attention back to Li Zhi.

"Does King Jin have anything to say?"

By this time, Li Shimin no longer cared about the courtesy of the emperor and his ministers, and directly stated Li Zhi's title.

Li Zhi thought for a while, and then directly talked to Hou Junji.

"Chen Guogong, you said that you never said these words, and I am willing to believe that you really have no intention of treason."

"However, if there is no wind, there will be no waves. Since I have some evidence in my hands, there must be a source, right?"

"I don't want to force you too much. I just want to ask you a question."

"That is: Captain Consort Du He, have you visited Duke Chen's mansion recently?"

Killing the Founding Minister will do no one any good.

Li Zhi certainly knew what Hou Junji was thinking and what Hou Junji would do in the future.

But it would be meaningless to try Hou Junji for a crime he had not yet committed.

In particular, it also involves the attitude of the founding king towards the founding heroes. It is not easy to really execute people.

Therefore, the point of impeaching Hou Junji is not to kill him, but... to deprive him of his power.

There is no way, the founding hero must have some privileges.

After asking the question, Li Zhi stared at Hou Junji's back, waiting patiently for his answer.

Hou Junji turned around, stared at him with bloodshot eyes, and retorted loudly: "Even if Du He visited me, what does that prove?! You don't want to be bloody! This king has never done that." , I just haven’t done it! How can you, a prince, be wronged!”

Got it!
This means we no longer intend to cooperate.

Li Zhi shrugged, and cast a questioning look at Li Shimin, meaning: Do you want to kill him?
Li Shimin hesitated for a moment and shook his head slightly.

Seeing his actions, Li Zhi understood what he should do.

"Since Chen Guogong is unwilling to admit it, there is nothing I can do about it. I would also like to ask Your Majesty to order a strict investigation of this case. I will assist you and provide you with accurate clues!"

The purpose of putting the investigation time after the court meeting is to free up room for manipulation.

At that time, no matter what is found, you can decide the strength of the sentence according to your own wishes.

For example, the crime that should have punished the Nine Clans could turn into beheading, or exile, or just a simple demotion.

But if you go to court in the court, you won't be able to do these tricks.

After all, everyone knew what crime Hou Junji had committed, so if he took it lightly, wouldn't it be a mess?
Since Li Shimin didn't want to kill Hou Junji, he could only move the case behind the scenes.

In this way, it is impossible for everyone to know the details of the case.

However, Li Zhi and Li Shimin reached an agreement, but they failed to form a tacit understanding with Hou Junji.

Li Zhi's concession was regarded as a guilty conscience by Hou Junji. The founding minister actually refuted it on the spot: "You dare to impeach an important minister without evidence because you are a prince! How can you be such a child's play in the court?! What if? If you are allowed to act recklessly for a long time, wouldn't it put all the courtiers in danger?!"

Speaking of this, Hou Junji cried out to Li Shimin with an aggrieved voice: "Your Majesty! How can you let a child with a yellow mouth be appointed to the Yushitai? Look, he still needs you to send someone to investigate the case before he can be settled." The crime of the minister, he slandered the courtiers for no reason, how dare the courtiers wholeheartedly share your worries?"

Li Shimin was in a dilemma for a while.

Even if what Li Zhi said was true, only listening to Li Zhi's statement, Hou Junji just complained a few words and said a few angry words.

This is indeed "disrespectful". According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, he should be beheaded in public.

But this guy is an old minister who has been with him for many years, and he has made so many contributions to the Tang Dynasty. Is it really necessary to kill him just because of a few words of complaint?

But if he wanted to let Hou Junji go, this guy still refused to give in and insisted on forcing Li Zhi to go to court.

How can this be good?

Li Shimin was full of worries and didn't know how to make a decision for a while.

But Li Zhi has no such scruples.

Not only are you ungrateful, but you also want to kick me out of the court?

Shameless, you asked for this!
Li Zhi's anger came up immediately, he didn't care what other people thought, and immediately stated the evidence he had.

"In the 16th year of Zhenguan, on October 23rd, at about five quarters of Shen's time, Du He, the prince's son-in-law, visited Chen Guogong's mansion, and had a banquet at Youshi."

"During the banquet, there were not only Chen Guogong and Du He, but also two right-guard generals, the chief registrar of the Duke's mansion, and three retainers!"

"If you want to find out the truth, you only need to send the criminal department to investigate the people who are at the same table, and you will be able to find out the truth."

"Also! Chen Guogong and Zhang Liang, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and the current governor of Luozhou, Yun Guogong, also said similar things. Your Majesty can send someone to ask..."

Li Zhi wanted to continue talking.

At this time, Li Shimin's angry voice came out.

"Enough! The court is not a place for nonsense, so shut up!"

Li Zhi pursed his lips, and swallowed back what he hadn't finished speaking.

Hou Junji, on the other hand, turned pale. How could he not know at this time that everything he had done had been leaked.

Hou Junji still wanted to kneel down and beg for mercy, hoping that Li Shimin would let him go.

But before Hou Junji had time to kneel down, Li Shimin had already issued an order, and he dealt with it neatly.

"Hou Junji, the Minister of Civil Affairs, behaved inappropriately!"

"Arbitrarily discussing the rights and wrongs of the emperor, which caused controversy in the court!"

"Because of Chen Guogong's hard work and great achievements, I don't want to deprive him of his title."

"But his crime cannot be forgiven and must be severely punished!"

"Now, Hou Junji, Minister of the Demoted Officials Department, is the governor of Baizhou and leads the Baizhou military!"

"Depart today, no mistakes!"

……

Listening to the words read from Li Shimin's mouth, Hou Junji's face turned ashen.

But thinking that he was suspected of treason, but was taken lightly by Li Shimin, he let it go.

I had no choice but to be grateful again, and knelt down to receive the decree.

If the investigation continues as Li Zhi said, it will not be as simple as distribution.

At least it is a capital offense!
Hou Junji may realize that he escaped a catastrophe, and he is very grateful to Li Shimin.

"Thank you for your grace, thank you for your grace!"

Looking at this scene, Li Zhi curled his lips and felt quite dissatisfied.

Originally, at least it should have been the crime of Qiu Hou Wen's beheading, but Li Shimin let it go so easily.

Although the distribution is far enough, it is still too light!

The governor of Baizhou is at least a fourth-rank official.

Not to mention avoiding the death penalty, he was lucky to be able to leave the court in such a decent way!
But... Baizhou is not a good place.

Thinking that the frontier where Hou Junji was sent was a dangerous area full of miasma, Li Zhi couldn't help but feel much better.

(End of this chapter)