Chapter 34: Please Call Me Fang Dadan

The citizens of Chang'an City discovered that the wildly spread rumor was actually true!

The Son of Heaven issued a decree: kill three sons in one day!

Crown Prince Li Ying, Prince E Li Yao, and Prince Guang Li Ju were first demoted to commoners on the same day, and then ordered to commit suicide at the East Post Station outside Chang'an City!

The bodies of the crown prince and the two princes have hung on the beams of the East Post Station for a day, with no one taking them down.

The reason is not hard to understand.

Everyone knows leaving them like that is improper, but without an order from Li Longji, from the chancellor down to the post station guards, who would step forward to retrieve the former crown prince's and two princes' bodies?

Anyone who steps forward risks losing their office, even their life.

No one is willing to bear such a risk!

Li Longji resolved this highly contentious upheaval privately by means of a coup.

Even Right Prime Minister Zhang Jiuling and Left Prime Minister Li Linfu were only informed by Gao Lishi after the three princes were granted death.

On that day, Li Longji's will was the dominion over Chang'an City.

His speed of action and cruelty of method were rare even during Wu Zetian's reign, even in an era of rampant harsh officials, and can be said to be the first since the Kaiyuan era.

Even the infamous Lai Junchen and his ilk of the Wu Zhou period, when eliminating a minister or prince, had to fabricate charges and conduct a trial, letting Ministry of Punishments officials take part as a formality!

Li Longji, without any procedures, without any judicial officials' involvement, and with the outer court almost completely unaware, directly forced the crown prince, Prince E, and Prince Guang to death.

He also ordered the bodies to be left exposed in the post station for three days.

This order left everyone in Chang'an City with an inexplicable sense of suffocation.

Although Li Longji did not state what would happen to anyone who retrieved the three princes' corpses, the residents of Chang'an are not lacking in reading the room.

That day not only did the officials stationed inside the East Post Station move out early, but no new officials took up residence, and everyone passing by detoured.

Even the post station guards all fled without a single one left!

In the study of Qinzhengwubenlou, Zhang Jiuling's trembling hands held a memorial, hesitating whether to submit it.

It was a memorial on reducing palace expenses, written long ago. However, the deaths of the crown prince and the two princes disrupted Zhang Jiuling's plans.

His dark face looked like that of a man on the brink of death, having lost most of his vitality.

Zhang Jiuling's lips quivered slightly, unsure what to say to Li Longji.

No matter what he said, the dead crown prince was already utterly dead. The dead cannot be revived; what can be done?

It's too late to say anything now!

"Zhang Gong, do you have anything to say to me?"

Li Longji asked calmly.

"Your Majesty, the crown prince is guilty... but the crime does not merit death."

Zhang Jiuling said word for word.

"The crown prince and the two princes practiced witchcraft and cursed Consort Wu Hui and Prince Shou, and even cursed me. Does that also count as a crime not deserving death?"

Li Longji's tone clearly grew a few degrees colder.

"I am not clear on these matters; there may be twists. However, the crown prince is guilty, and it is best to let the Zongzheng Office handle it. The other personnel involved should be investigated in detail by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments."

Zhang Jiuling persisted.

"Do you intend to wait until I pass away before you slowly investigate? Are you and the crown prince comrades?"

Li Longji, furious and exasperated, roared at Zhang Jiuling!

Zhang Jiuling and Li Linfu hurriedly bowed and begged for forgiveness.

They could feel that Li Longji was truly in a rage.

"Brother Nu, how is the investigation of Yan Tingzhi going?"

Li Longji suddenly changed the subject, shifting from the matter of killing the crown prince to Yan Tingzhi's case.

Zhang Jiuling thought to himself that things were ominous, yet his face remained unchanged.

"Previously, Wang Yuanyan, who was under investigation for embezzlement and perverting the law, committed suicide in the Weizhou Prefecture office out of fear of punishment. Yan Tingzhi's defense collapses on its own. If he were truly innocent, why would Wang Yuanyan take his own life? Please, Your Majesty, make a judgment."

Li Linfu, after bowing, took a public letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Longji.

As a master of power struggles, Li Linfu either does not act, but once he does, his opponent has no chance to counterattack. He has already turned Yan Tingzhi's case into an iron case.

And this matter will become the final straw that breaks Zhang Jiuling.

"Dismiss Yan Tingzhi from his Central Minister post and demote him to Prefect of Jiangzhou."

Li Longji waved his hand lightly and said.

Yan Tingzhi's promotion to minister not only failed but resulted in demotion, which Zhang Jiuling had not anticipated.

"I have failed in my duties; please punish me, Your Majesty."

Zhang Jiuling also bowed and performed a salute.

Sure enough, Li Longji also waved his hand, saying little.

For an old minister about to be dismissed, what else could he be punished for?

Including Li Linfu, the central court officials seemed to have forgotten that three condemned wretches still hung on the beams of the East Post Station, swaying in the spring breeze.

The central court officials, including Li Linfu, seemed to have forgotten that there were three unfortunate souls who had been ordered to die still hanging from the beams in the Eastern Posthouse; at this very moment, the spring warm wind was blowing.

The East Post Station is the main station east of Chang'an City, and it is vast in scale.

But at this moment, its gates are wide open, with not a single ghostly figure inside, and no imperial guards patrol the surroundings.

These people fear being tainted by "bad luck", being implicated by the three unlucky souls sentenced to death by Li Longji.

Killing three sons in one day is Li Longji's greatest fury since his ascension! It is an unprecedented malignant political event in Chang'an's affairs since the Kaiyuan era.

Who dares to guarantee that the emperor's anger has been fully vented and that he will not vent it on the related personnel?

Li Longji, thinking that his three sons had died like this, wonders if, should he feel unwilling, he might find an excuse to vent his anger on the stationed soldiers.

Li Longji thought that his three sons had died just like that, and if he felt a lingering resentment, would he find a pretext to vent his anger on the soldiers on guard duty?

I have to say, this possibility is quite high; throughout the ages there have never been a shortage of similar examples.

After all, when people get sulky they like to kick the small stones by the road to vent. May I ask whether those little stones have offended the sulky people?

Why don't these brats kick the "big stones"? Isn't it because they prefer to take out their anger on the weak and fear the strong?

At this very moment, a group pulling an ox‑cart arrived outside the East Post Station gate, led by a child about eight or nine years old. Passersby on the official road watched them from afar, yet no one dared to approach and speak to them.

Even a squad of soldiers dressed as Jinwu Guard were lurking nearby, but still no one stepped forward to interrogate them.

"Lord, aren't we making too much of a show?"

The strong, robust Fang Dafu lowered his head and whispered to Fang Chongyong's ear, "Lord, aren't we making too much of a show?"

"If there are fewer people, we won't be able to move the bodies; after all, a former Crown Prince and two former princes are quite heavy, aren't they?"

Fang Chongyong gave a patient explanation, though it was all nonsense. Clearly Fang Dafu's words were not the same as his explanation.

"Lord, then why must I carry the bronze gong?"

Fang Laique held the bronze gong in one hand and a wooden mallet in the other, asking in puzzled confusion, "Lord, then why must I carry the bronze gong?"

"Later just strike the gong to clear the way; don't ask any more. We'll first load the bodies onto the ox‑cart, then circle half a lap inside Chang'an, exit through Yanping Gate on the west side, and head straight to the cemetery to inter the three."

After assigning Fang Laique his task, Fang Chongyong led the party into the East Post Station hall, where three figures were suspended from the high beams with white silk, presenting an indescribable hanging‑ghost appearance.

Fang Chongyong suppressed the wave of nausea in his stomach, bowed to the three hanging corpses and said, "Today I escort you to rest in the earth; may you not be born into a royal house in your next life."

Then, with a clasped‑hand salute, he said to Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan behind him, "Having come this far, we can still turn back. Are you truly willing to do this? Won't you regret it?"

His tone was solemn; once they left the post station with the three bodies, they would be accomplices, and Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan could not escape either!

"It's one thing for a saint to kill three sons in a day, but ordering their bodies to be displayed for three days at the post station is truly improper. Regardless, the three princes showed no sign of rebellion; granting them death and then interring them is appropriate. Once a person dies, the crime is erased, so why further disgrace the dead?"

"Since the young lord is willing to go for the greater cause, what fear do I, Zhang Xun, have? Could it be that this flourishing Tang has lost all justice and humanity?"

Zhang Xun said resolutely, clearly having made up his mind to stand shoulder to shoulder with Fang Chongyong.

"Exactly so; I feel the same. But instead of lingering here, let's quickly load the bodies onto the ox‑cart and take them to the cemetery for burial."

Xu Yuan clasped his hands and suggested.

This morning Fang Chongyong volunteered to help collect the three princes' bodies, and immediately received strong backing from Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan.

In fact, everyone in Chang'an thought Li Longji's handling of the matter was absurd.

Yet even if the affair was handled absurdly, it remains a royal family issue, unrelated to the onlookers.

Whether a humble commoner or a noble family, who wants to get tangled in unnecessary trouble?

Except for people like Fang Chongyong, who are content and complacent.

After loading the bodies onto the ox‑cart, Fang Dafu hadn't even driven back to Chang'an when he saw a squad of Jinwu Guard in red short‑sleeved jackets lining up to block them.

These men merely surrounded Fang Chongyong's party without acting, looking as if they were hesitant to act against a mouse.

"Gentlemen, regardless of the princes' crimes, they are the saint's face; hanging them from the post station beams is truly improper.

I only wish to inter them, so please do not obstruct me."

Fang Chongyong stepped forward and shouted to the soldiers.

No one answered, but the Jinwu Guard's expressions visibly softened, at least no longer treating them as bandits.

"If you clear a path, the saint may later hold someone accountable, but at most it would be our party's guilt that is pursued.

But if you delay the princes' burial, and the saint later faces public criticism for this, might the saint someday recall that it was your meddling that left the princes' bodies exposed in the desolate post station?"

Upon hearing Fang Chongyong's words, the Jinwu Guard obediently cleared a path.

A group of Jinwu Guard loyal to duty—so the emperor will appreciate them? Promote them?

That's really overthinking!

For example, one night Li Longji might crave a thrill, hugging a young palace maid to do some indescribable acts on a street in Chang'an.

At that moment, would the "loyal" Jinwu Guard also go up to investigate? Or just observe and learn from the side?

Obviously that's not the logic; anyone who can survive in Chang'an wouldn't be that foolish.

Now it's obvious Li Longji killed three sons in a day; someone is helping collect the bodies—if you, as Jinwu Guard, refuse to help that's one thing, but to block those people from giving Li Longji a ladder to step down is another.

Then you Jinwu Guard will later be torn apart, but that's just self‑inflicted.

Most Jinwu Guard soldiers are sons of local noble families in Chang'an, so they wouldn't do such foolish things!

Bang!

Fang Laique gave a forceful strike on the bronze gong, leading the way ahead of the ox‑cart. Fang Chongyong, Zhang Xun and others followed the cart; Fang Dafu steered it, and the party marched grandly toward Chang'an's Chunming Gate.

Pedestrians preparing to enter the city stepped aside, the city‑guarding Jinwu Guard soldiers also yielded; the onlookers wondered how Fang Chongyong's party would meet their end, while the Jinwu Guard were eager for them to leave quickly.

After entering the city, wave after wave of onlookers in Chang'an followed the ox‑cart, all eager to see how the affair would conclude.

…

Li Longji, working in the Zichen Hall of Daming Palace, heard from Gao Lishi that someone was collecting the bodies of former Crown Prince Li Ying and two princes, loading them onto an ox‑cart and heading toward Yanping Gate in the southwest.

Clearly the intention is to bury the three princes!

"How could such a thing happen!"

Li Longji was startled, his spirit jolted; the part that should have been troublesome turned out smooth, yet after the matter was settled a slew of unexpected problems arose, which was utterly vexing!

A father who refuses to handle his son's funeral and forces outsiders to do it—does such a father still deserve to be called a saint by the world?

Why did Li Longji order the bodies to be displayed for three days? Is it because he despises Li Ying and the others?

Actually it's not that; a new round of princely chaos is about to erupt, as they vie for the Crown Prince position.

Li Longji's action is meant to demonstrate his resolve and will to those people!

Those who plot rebellion, I will not tolerate, whether or not you have acted on it!

Li Longji believes that by setting this example, at least the next Crown Prince will be deterred from any improper ambitions.

His meaning should be quite clear.

But now a certain well‑meaning person has come to collect the three princes' remains, and the situation has become beyond expectations!

What these people were doing was squarely slapping Li Longji's face, telling the world: you, as a father, are too ruthless—not only did you kill your sons, you even ordered their bodies to be exposed for three days!

Aren't you refusing to help collect their corpses?

Fine then, I'll gather their remains for you!

Let's see whether you, as a father, truly have a heart of stone, and let's see how the people of the world will regard you, a tyrant more ferocious than a tiger!

Are you going to come and stop me? Then look around and ask those common folk watching how they see you?

"Whoever is behind this, I will surely kill them!"

Li Longji said to Gao Lishi through gritted teeth.

"Sage, this matter may not necessarily be a bad thing. Why not let this servant go over there and take a look.

As for the matter of the three princes, if the Sage were to handle it, where would you have them buried? This troublesome matter might as well be left for someone else to deal with."

Gao Lishi suggested in a low voice.

Li Longji pondered for a moment and said:

"You are right. It might as well be a good thing to let them bury the corpses of those three rebellious sons."

He suddenly recalled that after members of the imperial clan died, they ultimately all had to be buried at a chosen plot of auspicious land.

Killing three sons in a single day—if he were to have them properly gathered and buried, would it make people think he regretted killing them? That would clearly be inappropriate.

If he did not gather and bury them, then he couldn't very well keep the corpses hanging at the relay station forever, could he?

Li Longji suddenly felt that this matter, with some external force stepping in to handle it properly, might not be entirely a bad thing after all.

"Go and ask clearly. If they haven't made any additional demands... then throw these people into prison first, and I will interrogate them in person."

Li Longji said with an impatient wave of his hand.

What he did not know was that the young man who was helping him collect the corpses of the princes would go on to cause him countless troubles.