Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu were still very disappointed. This was a very rare opportunity for them. However, Li Zhi did not seem to have any idea of ​​exploring it and did not hand over the punishment to them. Therefore, they ran to find Wu Meiniang the next day, but the result they learned made them extremely depressed. Even Wu Meiniang could not change Li Zhi's decision, let alone them.

The Guanlong Group escaped the disaster.

After clearing all obstacles, Li Zhi finally issued the final punishment for the case.

Regarding the issue of punishment, Li Zhi made full decisions and personally gave instructions. Without anyone's hands, he adopted Changsun Wuji's strategy, but it was more based on the memorials brought by Wei Siqian.

There were more than 500 Beijing officials involved, of which 100 were demoted to the next level and were warned. More than 100 princes and nobles were fined a total of more than 200 fertile land and 500,000 shi of food.

When those princes and nobles learned of this result, they were relieved. The ability to use money to eliminate disasters was far beyond their expectations. After all, this incident was a hot topic. Many news about Li Zhi's desire to clear the court came from the palace and they wanted to clear them all out of Chang'an. Otherwise, they would not have gone to invite Changsun Wuji out of the mountain.

However, there were nearly 200 officials who were not so lucky and were all demoted from Chang'an. One of them surprised many people. Wu Meiniang's two brothers Wu Yuanshuang, Wu Yuanqing, and her cousin Wu Weiliang were demoted from Chang'an. The two brothers were originally officials in the capital and participated in the impeachment of Han Yi.

Wu Meiniang is at its peak now, how could her brother be demoted?

Those who know the inside story will not be surprised, because Wu Meiniang's brothers had bullied Yang and Wu Meiniang, drove Wu Meiniang out of the Wu family and invaded the property of Yang and Wu Meiniang. Wu Meiniang always remembered that she was busy dealing with Changsun Wuji and had no time to control them. This time she found an opportunity. Originally, Li Zhi did not intend to punish the Wu brothers, but the royal relatives were on the Internet, but Wu Meiniang refused and insisted on letting Li Zhi punish them.

No matter what the reason is, this time the officials are being punished is convincing. The queen's brother has been demoted. Why do you say that the emperor is eliminating dissidents?

Moreover, Li Zhi personally issued an edict and immediately implemented it. Within three days, he had to leave Chang'an, without leaving them room for fantasy, and quickly pack up his bags and flash people.

All the land in Chang'an was confiscated and distributed to the people and the soldiers who made contributions to this expedition. The military was quite satisfied and supported Li Zhi extremely, because this was also regarded as a struggle for military officers to suppress civil servants.

This is the art of the emperor. When attacking one group of people, it will definitely win over another group of people and will never offend everyone.

For a time, there were sorrows everywhere inside and outside Chang'an.

But those princes and nobles couldn't take care of themselves, so they dared not stand up.

Those officials who were still in Chang'an were thinking in their hearts that those who were demoted were helping you to charge in battle. As a result, you were fined a little money, but they even lost their future. However, you didn't even leave a single fart. If you were to hang out with you, there would be no good ending. This invisibly caused a gap between officials and princes and nobles. It is more reliable to hang out with the emperor these days.

Changsun Wuji's plan was so high that even Wu Meiniang had to accept it. She couldn't find an excuse to refute Changsun Wuji.

And Li Zhi is of course the biggest beneficiary.

If the last time was to attack the ministers of the Pudong Shou, then this time it was to target intermediate officials, weakening the complex relationship in the old officialdom.

Not only that, Li Zhi also issued a new system of officials selection, that is, children of nobles can be given preferential treatment when they enter the officialdom. They do not participate in the imperial examination and do not need to go through the imperial examination, but they must go through the palace examination of the emperor before they can enter the officialdom. The examination is divided into two parts: written examination and the emperor's personal question and answer. Those who pass the examination can be directly appointed as officials. The Ministry of Personnel will also be selected by the Ministry of Personnel before they can become officials. There are still preferential treatments. However, compared with the past, it is more standardized and strict, and it further weakens the aristocrats' restraint over imperial power and strengthens centralization. If they choose an official, the emperor has the final say. The nobles must also rely on the emperor, not the emperor rely on the nobles.

Although things were a bit sudden, this was actually what the Emperors of the Tang Dynasty were doing, which was to constantly weaken the aristocratic power. In fact, the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui Dynasty were all destroyed in the hands of these aristocrats. Using the ancients as a mirror, it can be seen that Li Shimin and Li Zhi were unwilling to repeat the same mistakes and had to attack the aristocrats.

After this incident, everyone knows that this emperor is really not a paper tiger. When it comes to fighting, it is no worse than Li Shimin.

.

Xiao Mansion!

Han Yi held a glass of wine, bent his arms and pillows, and his legs were half lying on the couch covered with animal skin in Xiao Wuyi's boudoir, with a hint of smug smile on the corner of his mouth. Now, all his plans were successful. Whether it was the implementation of the employment system, the Nanjin Plan, or the Guanlong Group, he had not left behind. This feeling was really wonderful.

Why did Cui Jieren and the others always think that Han Yi was so great this time. He sacrificed his future and offended all the civil and military officials of the court in exchange for Li Zhi's strengthening of imperial power. Even in Li Yi's mansion, Xu Jingzong would never do this. He was in the court and had a great deal of human relations. If you offend everyone, no matter how the emperor favored you, your career would never be smooth. After all, a person could not play alone.

It is because they didn't know that Han Yi and Changsun Wuji had such a relationship. It was the most important thing for Han Yi to preserve the backbone members of the Guanlong Group. He did not lose everything. This is just an illusion.

He was indeed a little proud at this time. After all, the people involved in this game were all top-notch people, but he was filled with a sense of accomplishment in front of such a smart person!

Suddenly, a familiar fragrance came. Before I could look up, I heard a very curious voice, "You are smiling so treacherously, are you planning something bad again?"

Han Yi raised his head, looked at the beauty in front of him with anger and amused, and said, "Come on, I won't be fooled by you again. It doesn't matter. Every time I laugh treacherously, you will see me."

Xiao Wuyi snorted softly: "Of course not. The people you have deceived have smiled a lot more than I saw you treacherously. What I saw was just the tip of the iceberg."

"The villain won't mention the shame of the past."

Han Yi rolled his eyes and said.

"Ah? Liar?" Xiao Wuyi covered her lips and chuckled, "You know yourself."

Seeing her smile as a flower, Han Yi felt a sense of accomplishment in her heart disappeared. She sat up, put the wine glass beside her, reached out to bring Xiao Wuyi over, let her sit on her lap, and couldn't help but say, "Wuyi, you are so beautiful that you suffocate me."

Xiao Wuyi looked at him cautiously and said, "Have you done something sorry for me again? You can say it first, and I will not forgive you."

"Oh my God!"

Han Yi fell into Xiao Wuyi's arms, gently arched between the two towering jade peaks, and cried, "Madam, why do you regard my heartfelt words as guilty words every time?"

Xiao Wuyi felt a sensation on her chest and dizzy cheeks. She pushed his head away with one hand and said in a pun: "Then - then you are really a bunch of bad ideas, which makes people unable to defend against."

Han Yi raised his head and asked anxiously: "For example, I believed in you naively and doubted my taste, but ended up going to the cottage seven times overnight?"

Xiao Wuyi's face turned red and she said, "I-I learned that from you too."

Han Yi said angrily and hilariously: "Before that, I was very honest. It was because of your influence that I became like this."

Xiao Wuyi turned his face to the side and said, "I don't have this ability. You are clearly hit by Lei. Please don't rely on me."

This is really true. Han Yi smiled and kissed her on her fair cheek, hugged her gently, and sighed: "I'm so sorry. Actually, I should be at home with you after I come back, but I--, sometimes, especially when I see such a beautiful and charming you, I really don't know whether I have gained more or lost more."

In his opinion, home is very sacred, but he did not do it. He and Xiao Wuyi were always together, which made him a little confused. Is he doing right or wrong?

Xiao Wuyi was stunned, feeling both moved and sad. He leaned gently into Han Yi's arms and said, "This is what you owe me, but you have to pay it back."

Han Yi nodded very seriously and said, "I will definitely pay it back. If I don't pay it back in this life, I will continue to pay it back in the next life."

Just then, I suddenly heard someone outside say, "Son-in-law, the queen sends someone to come and let someone enter the palace now."

No! I just made such a solemn oath! Han Yi looked at Xiao Wuyi with a depressed look on his face.

Xiao Wuyi stood up and said, "It seems that it will be difficult for you to pay it off in your next life."

Han Yi said with tears in his eyes: "Can you overdraw your next life?"

Xiao Wuyi pursed her lips and smiled, "Stop talking, go quickly!"

"ah--!"

Han Yi wailed on his back, jumped up from the couch, hugged Xiao Wuyi, kissed her fragrant lips hard, and said, "Come on your husband."

Imperial Garden!

Han Yi and Wu Meiniang stroll on the grass.

"No matter whether you are intentional this time or by accident, Your Majesty must thank you very much." Wu Meiniang smiled while walking. She and Han Yi didn't need to hide anything, they were just like that.

Han Yi said: "The queen is so serious about her words. It is the duty of her ministers to share her worries. How dare she thank her?"

Wu Meiniang said, "But you offended all the civil and military officials of the court because of this. I heard that those nobles all hated you to the core. Originally, you should have been very glorious when you made great contributions, but in the future you will be surrounded by enemies in the court."

Han Yi said: "From a neglected field to a third-rank minister who has been hated by princes and nobles, it can be seen that the status of ministers has been greatly improved."

"You are really open-minded!"

Wu Meiniang smiled, but she was used to it. Han Yi was such a free and easy person. She didn't care about these things at all. She could be said to do whatever she wanted, but then she sighed again and said, "But this problem could not exist. This time, it can only be said to be successful, but it is not perfect."

I knew you didn't ask me to comfort me. Han Yi said, "The Queen is referring to the Grand Marshal, right?"

Wu Meiniang nodded and said, "This was an excellent opportunity, but after all, the Taiwei is a chess first move. Do you know that 70% of the edicts issued by Your Majesty were suggestions given by the Taiwei."

Of course I know! Han Yi was stunned and looked at Wu Meiniang in shock.

"Your Majesty had met the Grand Marshal a few days ago." Wu Meiniang sighed and narrowed her eyes and said, "In this way, Your Majesty not only did not eliminate the Grand Marshal's power in the court, but Han Yuan and Lai Ji benefited greatly from it. Now Your Majesty has decided to make a decision to make a move for Han Yuan."

The contrast is too big, and it is difficult for Wu Meiniang to accept it.

Han Yi sighed: "After all, the Taiwei has been prime minister for 30 years and has experienced countless storms and waves. This crisis may seem a bit ordinary in front of him."

"No!"

Wu Meiniang frowned and her eyes suddenly became sharp, "I don't think so. Experience and intelligence are second. The Taiwei won the advantage of the geographical advantage this time."

Han Yi was stunned and said, "What do the queen say?"

Wu Meiniang said, "Actually, the first person His Majesty was Sikong. It was Sikong who suggested that His Majesty go to find the Taiwei. It can be seen that Sikong was also very afraid of the Taiwei, but the Taiwei had already been idle at home. Chu Suiliang and Liu Shi were demoted, Han Yuan and Lai Ji also lost power. His Majesty also controlled the Sixteen Guards in the Capital. But even so, both His Majesty and Sikong had awe of the Taiwei. Have you ever thought about what made the Taiwei maintain such a powerful deterrent power?"

Li Zhi was the first to find Li Ji, which shows that Li Zhi was also thinking. If Li Ji encouraged Li Zhi to start a war directly, then Li Zhi might not have met Changsun Wuji. Wu Meiniang understood a truth from this. In fact, Li Ji was also very afraid of Changsun Wuji.

Han Yi was sweating slightly. He guessed something and said, "I don't know what the queen thinks it is?"

Wu Meiniang said, "I have been thinking about this for the past few days, but after thinking about it, there is only one result, that is, Chang'an is in Guanzhong, and the Taiwei represents the power of the Guanzhong nobles. The Changsun family, Yu family, Yang family, Yuan family, Zhao family, Dugu family, Yuwen family and other Guanzhong nobles have been entrenched in Guanzhong for hundreds of years. The forces are mixed and they can move their whole body, which gives the Taiwei a great advantage.

We clearly have an absolute advantage on our side, but no one dares to gamble, because once Guanzhong is in chaos, Chang'an will definitely be the first to be affected, and Chang'an is the center of my Tang Dynasty. Even His Majesty is in Chang'an. Even if Chang'an shakes a little, the Tang Dynasty will become shaky. Therefore, as long as the Taiwei intends to ease the situation, then His Majesty and Sikong will choose to seek stability, because Chang'an is really too important."

This woman is so terrifying! Han Yi muttered to himself, saying, "In other words, no matter how the power of the Taiwei is weakened, the Taiwei who has a geographical advantage always has the capital to keep His Majesty at his disposal."

"Geographical advantage? Well said, it is this geographical advantage that makes us always have no choice but to take the Taiwei." Wu Meiniang narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "I finally understand why Emperor Yang of Sui would rather stay in Jiangnan than in Guanzhong. If Chang'an was not the capital, the Taiwei's deterrence would naturally be reduced by half."
Chapter completed!