The strong wind from the Western Regions had not yet passed, and the storm in Chang'an City came again. People from the Imperial City Office joined forces with the Right Guard Army and were arresting people in Chang'an City before the curfew started at night.
Generally speaking, if the various government offices come out to arrest someone, it is because they have committed some common crimes, which are not very serious. However, if people from the Imperial City Office come out to arrest someone, it is no longer a trivial matter.
If the sons of nobles committed a crime, at most they would be taken in and reprimanded. As long as no one was killed, they would have to pay money to atone for their sins. However, if they were taken to the Imperial City Yamen, some things would be difficult to say.
This time, in addition to the descendants of the five surnames and seven families, the most important thing is that a member of the royal family was also captured.
After Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, lost power, he was sent to live in retirement by Li Shimin. However, the old man was not idle either. He would have children every now and then. As a result, Li Shimin suddenly had more than 10 younger brothers.
Li Yuanchang, who was initially pinned down by Li Xiang, was one of them, and Li Yuangui, who was now kneeling before Li Xiang, was also one of them.
Li Yuangui, King of Sui.
This title may not sound very impressive, but according to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, all sons born to Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, must be given the title of One-Character King.
The Tang Dynasty took over the country from the Sui Dynasty. Since he was given this title, it means that Li Shimin did not like this person. So he should live a good life in normal times and not get involved in these political events.
As a result, during the investigation by the Imperial City Office, it was found that this guy not only came into contact with spies from the Arab Empire, but also contacted various relatives and nobles. It is not an exaggeration to say that he was the mastermind.
Kneeling next to him is Wang Qianbing, the current patriarch of the Taiyuan Wang family.
The descendants of the other five surnames and seven families also participated, but not the entire family. According to the previous rules of the Tang Dynasty, these people only needed to be killed and would not be investigated further. After all, these big families would be implicated if one move affected the entire family.
It is still the business method of Li Xiang and Li Shimin, cutting the flesh slowly will not hurt. We cannot kill them all at once. If we kill them all at once, the turmoil in the empire caused will not be something we can bear.
But the Wang family of Taiyuan is different. The entire family is in the lowest status, so they want to take a big gamble, and the entire family is involved.
Of course, how much more joyful they were at the beginning, how miserable they are now. All 72 main descendants of the Taiyuan Wang family are now in the sky prison. Li Xiang is also sitting in the interrogation seat of the Imperial City Office to see what else these two people have to say.
"The Five Surnames and Seven Families were once a formidable faction. Although they had various conflicts with the imperial court, they were not so far from betraying their country as to surrender to the enemy. Do you have anything else to say now? If you have nothing to say, over 70 of your Wang family's most prominent descendants will be marched into Chang'an City for execution tomorrow."
Li Xiang said righteously, these are all well-known figures, but I didn't expect that you would collude with the Arab Empire and try to create chaos in Chang'an City, and then affect the entire Western Regions, so that the countries in the Western Regions will turn to the Arab Empire. If that were the case, the Arab Empire's army would be able to reach Gaochang directly.
In addition, the countries in the Western Regions can also form a coalition force of hundreds of thousands of people, which will follow the army of the Arab Empire to fight. If that time comes, our Tang Dynasty will have no territory in the Western Regions, and we will have to organize an army to go to Gaochang. If we are defeated, the Arab Empire will even be able to march straight in.
"There's nothing much to say about this. It's nothing more than the saying, 'Winners take all,' but do we still have the Five Clans and Seven Families? Under your highness's repeated attacks, how much has our strength diminished? I'm afraid no one knows better than your highness. When my Taiyuan Wang family was once prominent, even your Li royal family didn't dare to confront us. What kind of life are we living in now? There's no need to say anything more. As long as we fail, you can do whatever you want to us. And remember, your Li royal family may not be able to go any further. You can't call the shots in this world."
Wang Qianbing was also very single. He knew that at this point, the other party must have all the evidence, otherwise it would be impossible to arrest these more than 70 people. You must know that more than 20 of them were still serving as officials in various places. If these people were arrested, many people would be implicated. However, the Tang Dynasty court still did it, which shows that the evidence is irrefutable.
Hearing this guy's fearless tone, Li Xiang really didn't know what to say. He betrayed his country and nation and was so confident about it.
"I won't say anything more to you. Since you've said this, apart from these 70 or so people, no one from your Wang family can stay. This is the king's will to all nine clans of the Taiyuan Wang family."
After Li Xiang finished speaking, this guy no longer had the composure he had just now.
The death of more than 70 people was indeed a heavy loss for the Wang family of Taiyuan, but at least the family still existed. If the entire clan was to be executed, then there would be nothing left.
"Everyone says that your Highness the Crown Prince is fair. There are hundreds of elderly, weak, sick and young people in my family. Could it be that they also did something wrong? They don't even know about this matter."
Faced with the whole family, young and old, the patriarch finally couldn't bear it anymore.
"Although you are a Han Chinese, what you have done is unfair to the Han people. Our internal struggles are just as you said. My Li family cannot continue for thousands of years. But these are all our internal struggles. They can all preserve the Han Dynasty. But what you have done will make it impossible for us to preserve the Han Dynasty. If foreigners enter the Central Plains, do you know how many people will die?"
There are many such things in history. When the nomadic peoples entered the Central Plains, the fate of us Han people was extremely tragic. We are not unaware of the Five Lakes Rebellion. The Han people at that time were called two-legged sheep.
When Li Xiang said this, the patriarch of the Wang family didn't know what to say. What he had done had indeed exceeded other people's bottom line, so although Li Xiang's punishment was a bit severe, it was also a reminder to others.
You can do whatever you want with the internal fighting, at least the Han Dynasty will not fall into the hands of others. But if you collude with foreign races, this will be your fate, and no one can avoid it.
"If you want to cooperate with foreigners in your next life, then you can become a foreigner."
Li Xiang waved his hand and his men pulled the guy out. The only one left was the Sui King Li Yuangui.
