hsntnovel Chapter 2191 Another windfall.
Chapter 2191 Another windfall.
After Wang Xuance finished speaking, he handed a list to Li Shen. Li Shen took it and took a look at it. There were dozens of names and the crimes they had committed written on it.
Some of them have an "X" drawn on them using red cinnabar, which should represent officials who were beheaded.
Li Shen didn't look at it carefully, put down the list and continued to ask:
"How much money do you have now?"
After they finished speaking, they looked at Wang Xuance with shining eyes.
Wang Xuance could see the raging fire in Prince Ji's eyes.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, the total is over one million strings of cash, of which over 380,000 strings of cash are stolen money, and the rest are fines.
However, due to the long journey, most of what they transported were gold and some valuables.
The price should be higher, but I am not very familiar with this, so I need someone who knows the business to come and take inventory."
Wang Xuance explained.
Li Shen's mouth watered when he heard the gold.
“Gold is good, and it will be easy for me to transport it back.
As for those valuables, you should write a letter to Wang Hongfu and ask him to send someone who is proficient in this field to count them.
I never thought that these children from noble families are really rich."
Li Shen couldn't help but sigh.
“Your Highness Prince Ji, I estimate that this money should have been taken from the clan. How could they have so much money?
This is the money that the clan paid in order to protect their lives and official positions."
Wang Xuance explained.
"What a huge expense! They are just some low-level officials, right?"
Li Shen was a little puzzled, as these people all had low-grade spirit stones.
The aristocratic families are full of talented people, wouldn’t it be easy to add a few more people?
"Your Highness, human lives are at stake. Besides, these officials have been in the officialdom for many years, and their network of connections is also a kind of wealth."
Wang Xuance reminded from the side.
"Oh~~~~" Li Shen suddenly realized that experience and connections all require time to cultivate and accumulate.
"No matter what, as long as we have the money, we can separate the stolen money from the fines. The stolen money still needs to be handed over to the court.
This prince clearly distinguishes between public and private affairs, and will never take advantage of the court."
Li Shen said seriously.
"Yes, I will arrange it.
Your Majesty, there is one more matter for you to decide."
"What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, there are nine-tailed officials in the prison who are from poor families. All the money they embezzled has been confiscated.
But they cannot afford the double fine, so I dare not make a unilateral decision. I would like to ask Your Majesty for instructions."
Wang Xuance asked for instructions. These people had no money, and he had no choice. King Ji said that they would be released only if they were paid.
"What do you think?" Li Shen asked back.
"Your Majesty, I think we should let them go. Spare their lives." Wang Xuance felt compassion.
But Li Shen did shake his head:
“We can’t forgive them so easily. I, the king, came from a poor family and should understand the sufferings of the people.
But in just a few years, it has become like this.
Officialdom can change their destiny, but it is definitely not a reason for them to make money.
If this is the case, what will happen if everyone follows suit in the future? "
It’s not that Li Shen is cruel, it’s just that they made a big mistake.
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. How should I judge?" Wang Xuance asked humbly, for he was afraid that he had made a wrong judgment.
"They are guilty of capital crimes, but they cannot escape punishment while alive. Then they will be flogged forty times, removed from their posts, and never employed again."
Li Shen thought for a moment and then spoke.
"I obey your command." Wang Xuance immediately accepted the order.
As long as King Ji spoke, he would not be afraid of anything, at least there was someone to back him up.
"Xuan Ce, do the same to the others. When I come back next time, I will go to the prison to see them and let them suffer as well."
Li Shen doesn't have time to deal with them now.
"Your Majesty, will we be in trouble if we do this? I roughly calculated that the fine alone would be around one million guan.
If the court investigates us... I'm afraid we can't afford it."
Wang Xuance had to give a reminder.
Li Shen really didn't care:
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. I already have a plan in mind. And they don't dare to attack me."
Li Shen said this very confidently, which gave Wang Xuance great confidence.
Otherwise, Wang Xuance would really be worried that something might happen. This is millions of strings of cash. Prince Ji abused his power for personal gain, which is a serious crime.
He can be called the biggest corrupt official in the world.
"Alright, do as I say. I am a little tired, so you can leave now."
Li Shen yawned and waved to everyone.
"Rengui, the team will rest for one night, and we will set off early tomorrow morning."
Just as Xue Rengui followed suit and saluted, Li Shen's voice rang out again.
"Yes, I accept your order."
After the three of them left, Li Shen lay on the couch, with the corners of his mouth unable to help but curl up.
"Hahahaha, I have millions of coins again."
Finally I couldn't hold back my laughter. I can finally have a good year this year.
Sure enough, there were murders and arson with golden belts, but no corpses were found in building bridges and paving roads.
Kindness does not command the army, righteousness does not command wealth. Sometimes, people have to be a little ruthless.
"Mei Niang, you and Ruyan should stay here tomorrow. I have to go to the workshop to take charge of the situation."
"Your Majesty, please let me go with you. If you encounter any problems, I can give you some advice.
And... Your Majesty, please don't forget the princess's instructions."
After hearing this, Wu Meiniang immediately asked for the way in.
"Well... okay then." Li Shen thought about it and nodded in agreement.
He naturally understood what Wu Meiniang meant. The task given to him by Lu Dingniang was simple: to make Liu Ruyan pregnant.
Ever since Su Xiaoxiao became pregnant, the rumor that Prince Ji was infertile was proven false, and Li Shen felt relieved.
His five-year plan was also put on the agenda.
But pregnancy is not something he can control.
Just look at your own father and you will know that among so many concubines who have been favored, only a few can give birth to dragon seeds, and many of them are unknown.
Even though Li Shen had been in the palace for many years, he still didn't know who most of his sisters were born to.
For example, the most virtuous eldest sister, Princess Xiangcheng, was said to be born to a concubine, but it is not known to whom she was born.
The same is true for the most famous Princess Gaoyang. Her biological mother is unknown and is said to be dead.
Among the concubines that Li Shen knew, except for the four concubines, only his third aunt Yang gave birth to a prince.
The others don't have specific names.
Therefore, Li Shen believed that if he wanted Liu Ruyan to get pregnant, his own efforts were only part of the equation, and the rest depended on fate and whether Liu Ruyan had the fate.
However, since Lu Dingniang has given me this task, I must try my best to complete it.
That night, in order to meet his KPI, Li Shen, despite the long journey, still took up his gun and mounted his horse, fighting the enemy for 300 rounds.
However, the enemy outnumbered us, and Li Shen had to fight one against two. Eventually, he was exhausted and defeated. The enemy sucked his essence and turned him into a cripple.
(I suddenly discovered something. Li Shimin had 21 daughters in total, and the only ones whose biological mothers were clearly recorded were Empress Zhangsun and Concubine Wei.
Did the rest die in childbirth?
Do you think there were palace fights in the Tang Dynasty, but there were no records of them?)