Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 25: Hold large meetings for minor matters, and small meetings for major matters.

The Crown Prince summoned him?

I am currently a seventh-rank official, above me are the Prefectural Assistant, the Junior Chamberlain, and even the Chamberlain, a powerful figure. If the sky were to fall, they would hold it up. Why would they come looking for me?

Shen Ce, still puzzled, waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to go their own way, leaving only the three of them in the courtyard.

"May I ask, Eunuch, what business does the Crown Prince have with me?" Shen Ce cupped his hands and asked hastily.

The eunuch stepped aside, gestured for him to enter, and said with a smile, "I truly do not know such a secret. Registrar, please come with me."

He spoke at a measured pace, and his voice was not the hoarse, duck-like voice that was rumored to be, but rather neutral and gentle, making it quite pleasant to listen to.

"Is it related to the Jialing Temple?" Shen Ce's eyes darted around after hearing this, and he quietly slipped ten taels of silver into the eunuch's sleeve before asking again.

At this moment, the eunuch raised his arm, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he pretended to be troubled: "When I was waiting outside the door, I only heard His Highness say that the roof of the rear pavilion of Xiande Hall was damaged and the memorials were wet. I don't know anything else."

Upon hearing about the leak, Shen Ce knew it was the work of the Imperial Household Department. He suspected that Zhang, the Imperial Household Department official, had sent people to cause it in an attempt to bring him down, but he hadn't expected them to act so quickly.

Thinking of this, Shen Ce understood. He asked the eunuch to wait a moment, turned around and went to the inner hall. In a few breaths, he removed his waist knife, straightened his official robe, took the tablet from the multi-treasure pavilion, patted his bulging chest, and went out.

Wen Wuyin, who was standing to the side, seemed to sense a conspiracy and walked up to Shen Ce: "There may be something fishy about this matter. I don't mean to be nosy, but I have a feeling that these two are connected. I hope Brother Shen will make preparations in advance."

After spending the past two days with him, he felt that Shen Ce was quite compatible with him. Not only was his background clean, but he had also managed to obtain an imperial edict and fish tally from Yuwen Zhan Shi in just a few days since arriving at the Zhan Shi Mansion. He must have some extraordinary abilities, so he decided to befriend him.

Seemingly remembering something, he suddenly turned around, pulled out an account book from his waist, spread the scroll on the ground, and half-squatted down to search. After a short while, he pointed to a spot and said, "Brother Shen, come and see."

Shen Ce looked in the direction he was pointing. On the rough yellow paper, a house in the shape of a temple was drawn with charcoal. In front of it, there were bowls and bricks, and many small black dots were densely dotted around it.

The two exchanged a smile. The family temple was in charge of the Crown Prince's meals, the arrangement of tribute items, and daily maintenance. This foolish wife of Zhao Yanxiu was quite skilled at painting.

"I asked, and each dot on this represents one string of cash."

Shen Ce straightened up and solemnly bowed to Imperial Censor Wen: "Brother Wen, thank you for your kindness. Although this evidence points to the Imperial Household Department, it cannot be used at this time."

"His Highness the Crown Prince inquired about the leak, and I should give him a direct answer. As for the evidence of corruption, please transfer it to the Court of Judicial Review."

Wen Wuyin understood the crux of the matter and nodded: "I was being presumptuous."

The young eunuch, however, was getting impatient. He knew that the ten taels of silver would only keep him waiting for a short while, so he urged, "Registrar Shen, hurry up and leave, lest His Highness be displeased."

Xiande Hall, the first main hall of the Eastern Palace, is two zhang high. Its double-eaved hip roof is magnificent from afar. Every day at sunrise, Prince Li Er summoned his ministers here. After the meeting, he would say, "Everyone may go back now. So-and-so will stay." It was at this time that important matters were discussed.

The saying goes, "Hold big meetings for small matters and small meetings for big matters," and this has been the case since ancient times.

In the rear pavilion of Xiande Hall, Li Er leaned against the imperial couch, his clothes half-open, and fanned himself with a round fan.

Below, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Yuwen Shiji, Wei Zheng, and Changsun Shunde knelt on prayer mats on either side.

Changsun Wuji spoke first: "Your Highness, we have recently received reports that Jiancheng and Yuanji's former subordinates have fled the capital region, mostly heading east of the Xiaoshan Mountains. The various prefectures and provinces are unsure how to deal with this. Please advise us, Your Highness."

Li Er lightly tapped his fingers together and said with a relaxed expression, "Understood. First, order the prefectures and counties to focus on appeasement and persuasion to return."

Changsun Wuji then asked, "If the former crown prince and the Prince of Qi's former subordinates, like Xue Wanche, refuse to submit time and again, what should we do? Should we send envoys to them?"

"Sending envoys at this time might be inappropriate," Wei Zheng suddenly said. "The powerful families in Shandong have only recently received the news and are unaware of the details. Sending envoys rashly will only increase their suspicions. It would be best to wait until the true news spreads and everyone understands Your Highness's benevolence before sending envoys to appease them."

Changsun Wuji couldn't help but retort, "Are we supposed to just let the former crown prince, along with the Qi king's officials and former subordinates, contact various tribes in Shandong, raise an army, occupy cities, and then send troops to quell the rebellion?"

Wei Zheng showed no weakness, not considering himself a surrendered official of the Eastern Palace, but rather an official of the Tang Dynasty. He replied, "Zhangsun, I understand your meaning. I am from the Wei clan of Julu. Although we are not a top-tier noble family, we have some reputation in the area. We, the various clans of Shandong, are not the kind of people who stand by and watch, waiting for a bargain. It's just that the new dynasty has just been established, and we did not want to make any mistakes. Our actions were a bit slow, and we had no intention of raising troops to occupy the city."

Li Er paid no attention to the two arguing heatedly, but admired his newly recruited surrendered official, and was quite pleased with his own judgment.

Li Er, having heard enough, tapped the table to interrupt: "Enough. In my name, issue a document to all the prefectures and counties in Shandong, stating that before the fourth day of the sixth month, the past affairs of the Crown Prince and the former subordinates of the Prince of Qi will not be questioned. The prefectures and counties are not allowed to make any unfounded speculations, and are even more prohibited from making any arrests without authorization. Violators will be dealt with according to the law."

"As for sending envoys..." Li Er paused, then looked at everyone: "Wei Zheng is right. The most important thing right now is the stability of the capital region. We need to rectify the palace and straighten out the central government."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling stood up, walked to the center, and, holding his official tablet, said, "Your Highness, we were just discussing the rectification of the palace. Shouldn't the positions of Generals Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, and Qin Shubao be promoted? They are currently still serving in the Eastern Palace, and it seems they are not up to the task of ensuring the safety of the capital."

"That makes sense," Li Er nodded, sat up straight, and pondered for a moment before saying, "Qin Shubao will be promoted to Left General of the Martial Guard, as for the rest... we'll make other plans after some time."

Everyone understood Li Er's implication: the emphasis was no longer on the first part of his statement, but on "some time later."

Your Highness is now the Crown Prince and in charge of the army. These past few days you have been busy strengthening the palace defenses and pacifying the people of Yongzhou. Once the capital region is stable, it is time to advise the Emperor to abdicate. The abdication ceremony should be held as soon as possible, since the process requires three refusals to show that you are forced to accept the position.

The observant eunuch Anan, seeing that the Crown Prince and the other officials had finished discussing important matters and started chatting idly, leaned close to Li Er's ear and whispered, "The chief clerk of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is waiting outside the hall."

Li Er snorted lightly: "Yuwen Shiji, Wei Zheng, this is your own family matter, you two should judge this case."

"Let them in."