The next two waves of Tuyuhun prisoners of war had already been sent to Guangzhou.

Combined, there are more than 60,000 of them.

Li Zhi dispersed all the prisoners of war and then developed them in groups of one or two thousand.

These people reclaimed the land and built their own houses, and soon formed natural villages.

So far, the mood of the POWs has been fairly stable.

First, it is because the labor intensity arranged by Li Zhi is not very high.

The second is that the living conditions provided by Li Zhi are much higher than their previous level.

Without the fear of survival, these people naturally have no incentive to rebel.

In addition, Li Zhi also has to thank the Tang Dynasty's government soldier system.

If all the 15,000 soldiers in Guangzhou City were replaced by recruitment, then Li Zhi really didn't have the courage to make a move on Dang Renhong so quickly.

The biggest advantage of the government military system is that all these people serve for a short period of time.

They don't have much affection for their generals at all.

This made it easy for the dragoon generals to replace the corrupt Canton officers.

Being able to successfully subdue more than 10,000 government soldiers is also a great deterrent to those prisoners of war.

At present, the only problem that gives Li Zhi a headache is the operation of the city.

He is now busy with those newly recruited officials every day.

I also have to help those businessmen settle disputes from time to time.

The point is that these people are all foreigners, and when they are in a hurry, they will unconsciously pop out a few words of their own Chinese.

In order to cope with this situation, Li Zhi had to hire several translators to solve the problem of language barriers.

Although he also has some power to appoint officials, he does not dare to abuse it casually.

Before the new chief officials arrived, he arranged all the officials below, so how should people look at him?

Fortunately, Li Shimin didn't let Li Zhi wait too long.

After discussing with Fang Xuanling and others, he decided to send Duan Zhixuan, the general of Zuo Xiaowei, to Guangzhou as the new governor.

At the same time as Duan Zhixuan set off for Guangzhou, Dang Renhong and other corrupt officials were finally escorted to Chang'an City.

Dai Zhou and Li Daozong quickly reviewed these people.

In the face of sufficient evidence, these people did not dare to retract their confessions.

So the two quickly handed over the final verdict of these people to Li Shimin.

When Li Shimin saw that Dang Renhong was really sentenced to death, the reluctance in his heart became even stronger.

He personally called Dang Renhong to the Taiji Hall.

Looking at the old minister in front of him with a haggard face and withered hair, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel a burst of sadness.

The two looked at each other for a long time.

Li Shimin's voice trembled and asked, "I have treated you well for many years, why are you so responsible for me now?" ”

Dang Renhong took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, the minister is already old, and the minister wants to enjoy it all his life for His Majesty." ”

Speaking of this, he shook his head and continued: "However, the reward given by His Majesty to the minister is not enough to make the minister live a luxurious life. ”

He looked up at Li Shimin and continued: "Your Majesty, the minister is unwilling! ”

Li Shimin did not get angry after listening to Dang Renhong's words, but sighed heavily.

He was right.

The reason why Dang Renhong is corrupt is entirely because of his desire for a luxurious life.

However, he couldn't give it at all, or simply said he couldn't.

At present, Datang is just beginning to settle down.

There are still many deficiencies in the country that need to be improved.

If every official starts to be greedy for pleasure, then who will do the rest?

Everyone no longer pays attention to government affairs, so won't the Tang Dynasty soon follow in the footsteps of the Sui Dynasty?

Li Shimin was silent for a moment and then said to himself: "It seems that I underestimated the temptation of this prosperous luxury to the officials!" ”

After saying this, Li Shimin was disheartened and waved his hand at Dang Renhong, indicating that he could leave.

Then Li Shimin ascended to the East Pavilion alone.

He wanted to be ruthless several times and directly approved the punishment of Dali Temple.

But in his mind, Dang Renhong kept flashing with his own soldiers to join the rebel army and break through Chang'an.

and all kinds of pictures when he helped himself prepare grain and grass to defeat Wang Shichong.

At that time, Dang Renhong was dissatisfied with the tyranny of the Sui Dynasty and took refuge in the rebels.

However, it didn't take long for Dang Renhong himself to start expropriating and extorting money, and even buying and selling officials.

Contradictory feelings tormented Li Shimin repeatedly.

Even though Dai Xuan had already played several times in a row, he asked for the beheading of Dang Renhong, but he ignored it.

In the end, he seemed to have finally made up his mind.

He said to Dai Guan, who came to urge him for the fifth time: "I have no legitimate reason to intercede for Dang Renhong, but I really can't bear to see him die under the butcher's knife. ”

Dai Xuan was just about to open his mouth to persuade him.

Li Shimin continued: "I have decided to pardon him for his capital crimes, but I also know that this is suspected of interfering with justice. ”

Speaking of this, he took a deep breath and said, "I have decided to kneel in the southern suburbs for three days starting tomorrow morning to pray for forgiveness from Heaven for my mistakes. ”

After Li Shimin said this, he couldn't put his clothes in order.

He didn't expect the emperor to do so much in order to exempt Dang Renhong from the death penalty.

So he quickly knelt on the ground and spoke: "The power of life and death is the exclusive property of Your Majesty, and Your Majesty must not punish yourself like this." ”

Li Shimin shook his head and said: "The law of the country is inherited from heaven, and since I plan to openly violate the law, I should beg for punishment from heaven, you don't need to persuade me again." ”

How dare Dai Zhou agree with Li Shimin's approach?

So I persuaded hard for a long time.

However, Li Shimin seemed to be iron-hearted, and refused to listen to persuasion.

Dai Xuan had no choice but to say goodbye in a hurry, and Li Shimin hurriedly went to Fang Xuanling and others to discuss a solution.

Early the next morning, Li Shimin asked Zhang Ananda to hold a straw mat, and the two of them were about to go south of the city.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I came to the gate of Miyagi, I saw Fang Xuanling and others kneeling in a row in the distance.

He hurried a few quick steps to the front of the group, trying to help them up.

However, before he could make a move, Fang Xuanling spoke: "Your Majesty, it is Your Majesty's prerogative to decide the life and death of the ministers and decide how the case will be resolved, so why should Your Majesty do this?" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji said: "Your Majesty's edict is the law, ancient and modern, your Majesty must not punish himself like this." ”

Li Shimin shook his head resolutely and said: "I have committed three major mistakes in this case, all of which are not tolerated by the law. ”

I only heard him say slowly: "I don't know anyone, and I hope that you will try your best to advise you in the future." ”

Dai Xuan said: "The ministers should be loyal and outspoken in the future, but this time I also ask Your Majesty to dispel the idea of self-punishment, otherwise the ministers will not be able to kneel for a long time." ”

Li Shimin refused to listen to persuasion and wanted to leave.

So everyone was in a stalemate in front of the palace gate.

During this period, more and more courtiers came, and until noon everyone refused to get up.

Fang Xuanling and others were already moved by Li Shimin's persistence and wept bitterly.