I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Buying things costs money, this is Li Shen’s basic principle as a businessman.

Since I have promised to give you 200,000, I must fulfill my promise.

Although I was cheated when I spent the 200,000 yuan, and was blackmailed, threatened and bribed.

But Li Shen still felt that since he had agreed, he had to give it, otherwise he might lose more.

Shitou took the two accountants who came in and walked out. Wu Meiniang was pulled onto the bed by Li Shen, who held her in his arms to keep her warm.

This is my beloved concubine, of course I have to love her.

"Tell me about your experience in the Northwest in detail."

Li Shen said to Wang Hongfu,

"Yes, Your Majesty, I just arrived in Xizhou Prefecture..."

Wang Hongfu spoke in great detail, elaborating on every word and every detail, including what he had said to the squad leader of the guards.

It's not that he has a good memory, but that he records what happened that day every day.

Get ready to go back and report to King Ji.

Because he knew that even if he didn't remember, the guards following him would report the details.

If I miss anything, King Ji will be even more disappointed and angry.

He started from the moment he met Zhang Sheng when he arrived in Xizhou Prefecture, how he dealt with Zhang Sheng, how he rescued Ma Wenchang, and how he was forced into a desperate situation.

In the end, he turned defeat into victory and captured Wang Wencheng, as well as his conversation with Guo Xiaoke in Xizhou, etc. He recounted every word for it.

Li Shen felt a little regretful after hearing this. He wondered why he didn’t go. He actually missed such a wonderful experience.

"Your Highness, this is Zhang Sheng's testimony, this is Ma Wenchang's testimony, this is the conversation when I interrogated Wang Wencheng, I wrote it down word for word."

After Wang Hongfu finished speaking, he took out several confessions and handed them to Li Shen. Li Shen took them and first read Zhang Sheng's confession.

It described all the evil things he had done, including how he interacted with Wang Wencheng.

"Humph, how despicable! This person could have been a talented person, but he was not strong-minded and was corrupted by Wang Wencheng.

He robbed women, murdered for money, and deserved death.

Hand the man over to Wannian County and let Di Zhixun judge him according to the law.

Considering that he has made up for his sins with his merits and you promised him, you will leave his family behind, but the next generation will not be allowed to enjoy the fief.

We also searched his house and confiscated all the money he brought back.”

After Li Shen put down Zhang Sheng's confession, he made the first judgment.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness on behalf of Zhang Sheng." Wang Hongfu bowed.

However, Wang Xuance stood up and said:

"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be handed over to Wannian County. If it gets out, it will be detrimental to the reputation of the palace.

In my opinion, it is better for the palace to deal with Zhang Sheng on its own."

"Would it be bad if we didn't go through the government?"

After hearing this, Li Shen asked hesitantly.

"Yes, setting up a private court is a big taboo. If people find out and impeach the prince, I'm afraid the prince will be punished again."

Wang Hongfu also echoed.

After all, Prince Ji has no real power. If he were in his own fiefdom, he could still find an excuse.

But this is Chang'an City, with government offices, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple.

"Your Highness, this matter is of great importance. Zhang Sheng has committed many evil deeds in Xizhou. If outsiders knew about this, they would definitely use it against you, Your Highness.

Even if we don't confront each other in the court, once the news gets out, it will have a great impact on your reputation and the reputation of the Ji Palace.

If the noble families were to exaggerate and distort the truth, it would have a greater impact on the reputation of Prince Ji's Mansion.

Because we not only have the Zhang Sheng incident, but also Wang Wencheng and his men have done all sorts of things in Xizhou."

Wang Xuance said solemnly.

What he meant was that one incident was insignificant, but if so many incidents were spread out, the Prince Ji’s Mansion would most likely be condemned by the people of the world.

Especially those so-called literati.

Li Shen hesitated, he understood what Wang Xuance meant.

Seeing Li Shen hesitate, Wang Xuance continued:

“Your Majesty, Zhang Sheng and the others are all from the Ji Palace, and they are also considered as household slaves. It is only natural for Your Majesty to deal with them.

Even if people find out about it, they will just give you some money.”

"Your Majesty, I think that the life of Wang Changshi is reasonable. This matter cannot be known to the outside world, as it will damage the reputation of the palace.

If the prince is not at ease, then report to His Majesty after handling the matter.

If anyone asks in the future, Your Majesty will also help the prince."

Wu Meiniang, lying in Li Shen's arms, also followed suit.

Li Shen closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then opened his eyes:

"Okay, let's do this. Zhang Sheng will be executed immediately, and his family will do as I say."

After saying that, he picked up Ma Wenchang's confession, which contained some things that happened in the textile factory. The culprit was Wang Wencheng's son.

However, Wang Wencheng's son was killed on the way, so Li Shen no longer needed to deal with him.

Putting down the confession, Li Shen thought for a moment and said:

"I don't want to cause more killings. I am a good man. How do you think the remaining people should be punished?"

Wang Xuance stood up first:

“Your Majesty, from what Shopkeeper Wang said, I can tell that these people are divided into two groups. One group is those who have committed many evil deeds and are accomplices of the evildoers.

The other group is the ignorant ones. They always thought that they were working for the Prince Ji’s Mansion, but they had not done anything extremely evil.

The first kind of crime is unforgivable and they cannot escape death penalty, so it is better to execute them according to the law. The second kind of people can be sentenced to be exiled.

Or you can be exiled to Lingnan, or even to Japan."

"Well, Lao Wang, what do you think?"

Li Shen nodded and looked at Wang Hongfu again.

“Your Highness, these people actually followed Wang Hongfu to do many evil things. Even if no one lost their lives, they were involved.

Wang Hongfu has done a lot of forced buying and selling, murder and robbery, and he is closely related to these people.

I do have an idea."

"Oh? Tell me."

“I think it would be better to send them to Liaodong Road to mine in our dangerous iron mines.

If they do a good job, let them stay there. If they die in there, it is what they deserve.

His Highness Prince Ji had mercifully given them a way out, but what they had done was abhorrent to both humans and gods.

Even God wants to take them away, and it has nothing to do with His Royal Highness Prince Ji."

Wang Hongfu knew Prince Ji's thoughts very well and shared his master's worries.

Li Shen nodded with satisfaction after hearing this:

"Okay, you are right. I am a kind-hearted person and do not want to kill them, so give them a chance to live.

If they really die, it has nothing to do with this king. I can only blame them for the wrath of heaven and people."

"Your Majesty, be merciful!"

Several people immediately bowed and flattered.

"You, Rengui, should do this. Send someone to escort them from the Wei River to Dengzhou by water, and then take a boat from Dengzhou to Liaodong.

It won’t be so conspicuous.”

"Yes, I accept your order."