Chapter 15 Resignation
"Governor Zhao, you are too serious. Lanzhou has a large jurisdiction, so it is inevitable that there will be omissions. How can this be your fault? Please stand up quickly." Li Heng said, helping Governor Zhao to stand up, and then continued: "Omissions are inevitable. The key is that the law is strict. If you know the crime but don't punish it severely, it's probably the same as committing the crime."

Li Heng had been behaving very kindly from the time he met these officials until now, so when Governor Zhao heard the first half of the sentence, he felt relieved. He thought that Li Heng was just trying to scare them in order to get some "offerings".

But after hearing the second half of the sentence, especially the words "no different from the criminal", Governor Zhao's heart was in suspense again. He had a feeling that Li Heng was going to get serious, so he quickly said, "I will handle this impartially."

"How can we handle this impartially?" Li Heng asked back.

Governor Zhao said: "If what Chen Wulang said is true, then the relevant people will be brought to justice according to the law."

Li Heng changed his tone and asked coldly, "Who are the relevant people?"

"Of course." Governor Zhao wanted to say that of course it was all the people involved in the Chen Wulang case, but the look on Li Ying's face seemed to indicate that Li Ying would not be satisfied no matter how he answered, so he simply asked, "Your humble servant is dull, please enlighten me, Your Highness."

"I dare not teach you." Li Heng sat down and said, "As far as I know, Fenglin County was hit by a disaster, and the court transferred food from Hexi to provide relief. Where did the food go? When I arrived in Fenglin, I saw soldiers were rounding up Chen Wulang. The Tang Dynasty was glorious, and the gods blessed all nations with prosperity and glory for thousands of years. In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, there are actually soldiers rounding up innocent people? Someone should explain this, right?"

Li Heng's words were intended to bring out more trouble. Not only was Governor Zhao frightened, but some of the people present were also scared to the point of breaking out in cold sweats.

Governor Zhao knew that if the matter was really investigated in detail, it would involve so many people that he would definitely not be able to handle it with his ability. So he weighed it in his mind and decided that rather than taking the risk of failing to handle the matter and being punished, it would be better to plead guilty now. After all, Li Heng was not his superior and could not really do anything to him.

After weighing the options, Governor Zhao knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness is right, but I am a lowly official with limited talent and moral integrity. I am afraid it will be difficult for me to accomplish this task. Please remove my position now to avoid causing harm to the country and the people."

As Governor Zhao finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Li Heng knew that although Governor Zhao's words were a rebellion against his superiors, they were also a helpless move.

The area of ​​Longyou and Hexi was not desolate during the reign of Emperor Li Longji. Not only was it not desolate, on the contrary, it was a prosperous area.

Agriculture in this area was well developed. There were 36 tuns in Chishui and 7 in Suzhou in Hexi. Animal husbandry was well developed. In 725, there were 43 horses, 5 cattle, and 2.6 sheep in this area. There was also the famous Shandan Military Horse Farm. Business was also good because this area was a major transportation route between China and the West and a transit point for international trade. At this stage, commodity trade in Hexi was very prosperous.

In such a good place, various forces in the court are involved. Therefore, if one wants to do something in this area, not to mention a small governor, even Li Heng himself would be in great danger.

Therefore, when Li Heng wanted to make a big deal out of this matter, he foresaw this answer from Governor Zhao. Moreover, if a governor could solve the matter, how could he stay?

Moreover, this matter would not only allow him to stay, but would also bring other benefits both publicly and privately.

For the public, he has to do something for the people.

Personally, it is precisely because the forces in this area are so complicated that he can use this opportunity to cut off some of the other forces in this area.

Li Heng already had a plan in mind, but he couldn't show it.

He pretended to be angry and started coughing, which became more and more violent.

Yang Yuhuan, who was standing by, gently massaged Li Heng's back. Zhang Mujin also came over and wanted to take Li Heng's pulse.

Yang Yuhuan thought Li Heng was really angry, so she comforted him, "My dear, don't bother with him. Just take care of your health."

Li Heng shook off Zhang Mujin's hand that was trying to check his pulse and said to Governor Zhao, "You are a governor of a state, but you dare not investigate the affairs of your own jurisdiction. Is this still the territory of the Tang Dynasty? I thought this place has been occupied by Tubo."

Seeing Li Heng coughing, Du Xiwang was frightened. He immediately came over to look after Li Heng and said to the others, "Why are you all standing there? Go find a doctor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and went to find the doctor.

"No need." Li Heng interrupted them and pointed to Zhang Mujin beside him and said, "She is the daughter of Imperial Doctor Zhang. She will take care of me." The governor Zhao, who was kneeling on the ground, was trembling with fear and kept kowtowing, saying, "I am guilty, I am guilty."

Li Heng looked at the governor Zhao and said, "I have no right to take your position. Since you are unable to do it, your superior should do it."

As he said this, he looked at Wang Zhongsi.

Because Wang Zhongsi had made great contributions in killing the enemy in December last year, Li Longji had just promoted Wang Zhongsi to the position of Longyou Interviewer.

The envoy was in charge of inspecting prisons and supervising county officials.

Judging from his official position, Wang Zhongsi has the authority to investigate this matter.

From a personal perspective, Wang Zhongsi lost his father when he was young and was raised in the palace at the age of nine. He was not involved in so many family forces and was most likely to handle the matter impartially.

But Wang Zhongsi didn't speak at the beginning, mainly for two reasons.

First, he was born a military general and was not very good at these political affairs. The interview history that Li Longji added to him was just a transition for him to move up the social ladder.

Secondly, this kind of matter should be investigated level by level, first to the county government, then to the state government, and only when both failed did it come to him.

Now that the governor has shown his cowardice, it is time for him to express his stance.

Wang Zhongsi stood up and said to Governor Zhao, "As a governor of a state, you openly shirk your responsibilities. Since you think you are insignificant and weak, I think you should not be the governor anymore. Come on, take him away and I will report to the court and then deal with him."

Upon hearing this, two soldiers outside the door came in and escorted Governor Zhao out.

After taking the governor away, Wang Zhongsi bowed to Li Heng and said, "Your Highness, I will handle this matter. If I cannot handle it properly, I will take the blame."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General." Li Heng replied weakly.

"This is my duty and I dare not boast about my hard work," Wang Zhongsi replied.

Du Xiwang, who was standing by, saw that the matter had been temporarily resolved, so he stepped out to smooth things over, saying, "Your Highness, let General Wang handle this matter, and there will be no loopholes."

Li Heng didn't say anything because he started coughing again.

After coughing for a while, Li Heng stood up, glanced at everyone present, and said, "I am not feeling well, so I will leave first. Please enjoy the banquet slowly."

After saying this, he turned around and went downstairs, supported by Yang Yuhuan.

Xin Yunjing, Zhang Mujin and Chen Wulang followed closely behind.

Du Xiwang, Wang Zhongsi and a group of officials immediately followed.

Du Xiwang had previously shirked responsibility and had never expected that things would develop to this point. For him, he could shirk responsibility if there were problems with the administration in Longyou, but if Li Heng had problems in Longyou because of administration, then his career would be over at best, and at worst he would lose his head.

Therefore, he chased after Li Heng and said, "Your Highness, please take care of your health first. If you need any help, I will immediately summon the doctor from Longyou to treat you."

(End of this chapter)