Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 53 The Shining Wei Zheng

The imperial carriage was now just for show, and Wei Zheng rode on horseback with the others.

While passing through Neihuang County, Shen Ce couldn't help but ask, "Lord Wei, I've heard you're from Neihuang in Julu. Why have you stayed here for over ten days, preferring to help in the fields instead of going home...?"

Shen Ce respected Wei Zheng and wouldn't apply the same scenarios from Wen Wuyin to him.

Wen Wuyin was different. Upon hearing that Wei Zheng had not returned home for more than ten days, he seemed to grow three inches taller. He frantically pounded his horse's belly with both feet, causing the horse to wince in pain and keep moving forward, its nose almost touching Wei Zheng's rump.

Without turning his head, Wei Zheng swung his whip and struck Wen Wuyin's horse hard on the head.

BMW, never one to tolerate such treatment, let out a couple of screechs and sped off into the fields beside the road.

Wei Zheng remained indifferent, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes, but it quickly vanished: "The affairs of state are not yet settled; how can I concern myself with family matters?"

At this moment, Shen Ce seemed to see a shining person. Although people often criticized Wei Zheng for changing masters six times, Shen Ce had seen him all along and he could be considered a pragmatic person who worked for the people.

He believes that good people should be rewarded, and there is no such thing as belated blessings. Good rewards should be delivered immediately, otherwise it will be considered a punishment.

He summoned Cheng Chumo, whispered a few words in his ear, and Cheng nodded repeatedly. He immediately broke away from the main force, wildly whipped his horse, and galloped towards the village ahead.

The convoy gradually slowed down, and Shen Ce occasionally looked into the distance.

After traveling for more than ten miles, just before passing Neihuang County, a woman in her thirties, leading her four sons, stood by the official road, craning her neck and looking ahead.

The woman standing at the front wore a narrow-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a hemp shawl, and no makeup on her face. She had a simple hairpin in her hair and held a four- or five-year-old child in her arms.

Seeing that Qin Chuan showed no sign of stopping, Shen Ce sighed, took out a few copper coins from his pocket, and threw them forward with all his might.

Upon seeing the unexpected windfall, Qin Chuan immediately raised his hand to stop the procession, quickly dismounted, and was about to mount his horse again when he found that the caravan had stopped.

Wei Zheng loosened the reins that were wrapped around his hand, remained silent for a long time, and then dismounted.

He took the child from Madam Pei, handed him to Wei Shuyu who was standing to the side, and then took his wife's hand.

"My lord, you have worked hard for the country," Madam Pei said gently. The presence of a group of gentlemen made her blush, and she lowered her head, her voice somewhat low.

Wei Zheng loosened his grip considerably and embraced her without a care, only stopping when Pei struggled to get up.

The others, being quite perceptive, moved forward discreetly, except for Cheng Chumo, who remained standing in place, seemingly obeying Shen Ce's initial command, until Shen Ce grabbed him by the collar and led him away.

They didn't need to listen to the rest of what he said, and walked forward for more than a hundred feet before stopping.

Cheng Chumo remained quite curious, standing on the carriage, placing his hand in front of his forehead, and occasionally tiptoeing to look.

"Alright, they're an old married couple enjoying their time together, why are you getting involved? I told you to go and call for help before, you've seen what Pei Shi looks like before," Shen Ce said irritably, glancing at her.

Cheng Chumo didn't even turn his head: "How can that be the same? I have to keep a close eye on this kind of thing, and I'll have to talk to my father about it when I get back."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ce was furious. He immediately dragged Cheng Chumo off the carriage and said fiercely, "You didn't even mention the local customs and people along the way, nor did you discuss official conduct. All you did was think about such gossip. If you dare to say this when you get back, Duke Su will not only beat you, but he'll beat me too!"

Shen Ce's words caused the surrounding guards to burst into laughter, and Cheng Chumo even blushed. The fifteen-year-old boy hung his head and crawled into the carriage.

He had read the biography of Wei Zheng and knew what kind of person he was. He lost his father at a young age, and his family fell into poverty. His mother worked day and night to support his studies, but it was not enough to cover the cost. Wei Zheng had no choice but to enter a Taoist temple, where he studied diligently by the light of the temple's oil lamp until he was over thirty years old. Taking advantage of the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, he gained the appreciation of Yuan Baozang and became a scribe. Later, he served under Li Mi, Li Yuan, Dou Jiande, and then Li Jiancheng.

To be honest, Shen Ce admired him greatly. He had spent most of his life living in the mud, and after many twists and turns, he finally got to live in a peaceful era.

Because he frequently changed employers and had no stable place to live, he lived alone with his elderly servants. His wife and four sons are still in their hometown and have not been brought to Chang'an.

Wei Zheng didn't keep everyone waiting for long. In a quarter of an hour, he rode up alone. This was the first time Shen Ce had seen mist in his eyes. Perhaps it was the hardships he had endured since childhood that gave him enough composure and perseverance.

"Thank you," Wei Zheng said calmly, shaking the reins.

Shen Ce shook his head and smiled, "Seeing that Duke Wei is loyal to the emperor and devoted to the country all day long, it is only right that I share some of your burdens."

He paused for a moment, and seeing that Wei Zheng did not respond, he said sincerely, "When the delegation returns, let's take this route as well, and bring your wife with us."

Wei Zheng nodded almost imperceptibly, without giving a direct response, and walked alone to the front of the line.

Shen Ce understood that Wei Zheng only now realized that he would no longer change jobs and could provide his wife and children with a stable life.

Shen Ce hurriedly instructed Cheng Chumo to go back and inform Pei Shi so that they could make preparations in advance.

With Li Sixing's daughter, Ma Gu, as an example, many of Li Jiancheng's former subordinates in Hebei settled down and pledged allegiance to the new crown prince.

Actually, this was a win-win situation, but one party needed to make a graceful exit. Li Sixing really followed them around to various prefectures like a puppet.

Once his mission was accomplished, everyone treated him like a mascot and sent him back to Chang'an, where he was naturally offered high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.

To be honest, there's nothing shameful about what he did. For his own life, and for the lives of his wife, children, and elderly parents, he would do anything, even kneel and be paraded through the streets. Shen Ce respected him as a true man.

Their mission now has only one task left: dealing with the powerful clans in Shandong.

When Li Jiancheng quelled the rebellion in the fifth year of the Wude era, he followed Wei Zheng's advice and tried his best to win over this powerful family. He even married a woman from the Zheng family of Xingyang and made her the Crown Princess.

This deep bond was completely destroyed by the Xuanwu Gate Incident. From then on, when facing these powerful families, it was all about naked exchanges of interests, with little room for sentimentality.

When Shen Ce asked if our price was sufficient, Wei Zheng laughed heartily and said, "Some people love talent, some love fame, and some love being an official. There is no one in the world who is without desires. Even a monk would want a big Buddha statue."

The Crown Prince could provide whatever the aristocratic families wanted.