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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 356: An Explanation

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    When Li Xiucheng stepped into Suzhou City again, he felt as if he had been in another world.  The last time he came to Suzhou was more than seven months ago. At that time, Li Xiucheng entered Suzhou City with great pride. At that time, he returned to Suzhou to participate in the reorganization meeting of the West Palace troops and horses, and at the same time, he also accepted the title and award from the King of the West.  Since the defeat of Xiangrong's Qing army in the battle of Siyeling, Li Xiucheng has led the army alone all the way. The battle of Suzhou, Hangzhou and Ningbo made Li Xiucheng famous all over the world.

    The West Hall is a place where generals gather, such as Li Kaifang, Lin Fengxiang, Ji Wenyuan, Zhu Xineng, Chen Yucheng, Li Xiucheng, Lin Qirong, Liu Lichuan, Luo Dayou, Tan Shaoguang, Tang Zhengcai, Tongbao monk, etc., every name will make Qing Dynasty laugh.  The army is timid.  At the time of Suzhou's knighthood, only four people, Li Kaifang, Lin Fengxiang, Lin Qirong, and Li Xiucheng, were awarded the title of first-class baronet.  In other words, the most famous people in the West Palace today are Shuang Lin, Shuang Li and Shuang Li. These four people are often hailed as the four generals of the West Palace by the Taiping Army.

    Seven months ago, Li Xiucheng was very high-spirited. It only took him two years to go from being a two-man Sima to where he is today, which is enough to make him feel proud.  It's a pity that this sentence may be true. When Li Xiucheng stepped into Suzhou City again seven months later, he already felt the sadness of a hero's end.

    Although the instructions from the King of the West to summon him to Beijing were very polite and even praised Li Xiucheng greatly, Li Xiucheng seemed to feel something was wrong.  First of all, the newly formed 1st and 2nd Divisions, which were under their own control a month ago, were suddenly taken back by the Ministry of War and placed under the direct command of Li Kaifang, Minister of War.  Secondly, Liu Lichuan from the Ningbo Military and Political Department replaced several important figures in the Ningbo County and Township Military Department, all of whom were close friends with him.  Finally, the Intelligence Department and Supervision Department of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice of the Western Prince began to have more frequent activities in Ningbo.

    Li Xiucheng smelled a hint of uneasiness from these actions, and then the second phase of the reorganization regulations was adjusted.  Originally, Li Xiucheng's troops from Ningbo County were sent to Shanghai in three batches to reorganize and receive new equipment. However, half a month ago, the Ministry of War issued an official document to mobilize all the remaining troops of Li Xiucheng's troops to Shanghai for reorganization.  Li Xiucheng suddenly discovered that overnight.  He became a mere commander. Except for the more than a thousand personal guards under his command, he could not mobilize any other troops.

    All this transfer was so quick and so logical. Li Xiucheng once wrote to the Ministry of War to inquire, but the Ministry of War's attitude was very tough. Li Kaifang only replied to him with a few words: "Soldiers must obey orders as their bounden duty!"

    Li Xiucheng¡¯s subordinates also received many transfer orders, either to Suzhou, to the Shanghai Military Academy to participate in officer training courses, or to the local rural army system.  The transfer order was issued in several stages. At first, Li Xiucheng thought it was an ordinary transfer.  But when he discovered something was wrong, he realized that there were not many of his trusted generals left around him.

    A week ago, even his brother-in-law Song Yongqi and clan brother Li Mingcheng realized something was wrong and came to Li Xiucheng to discuss countermeasures, but now what countermeasures can Li Xiucheng come up with?  Not to mention that he no longer has troops in his hands. Even if he has troops, it is not necessarily possible that all his soldiers will be on his side, not to mention that Ningbo still has more than 20,000 new division soldiers and generals who are like wolves and tigers.

    Li Xiucheng came to a terrible conclusion after discussing with his relatives and confidants.  The King of the West had to move himself, otherwise it would not have been possible to arrange it so carefully.  Think about it the other way around.  Why did King Xi want to touch himself?  When Li Xiucheng realized this problem.  Only to realize it was too late.  Under his repeated questioning, Song Yongqi, Li Mingcheng and others told some of the things they had done behind Li Xiucheng's back.

    "You don't know if you don't listen, but you're shocked when you hear it. When Li Xiucheng found out what dirty things Song Yongqi, Li Mingcheng and others had done behind his back, he lost all hope. These things all violated the laws of the New Deal.  Together they are enough to decapitate more than a dozen times.  He was not strict with his subordinates and made mistakes first. No wonder the King of the West wanted to touch him.

    Therefore, when the General of the King of the West arrived to summon him back to Suzhou, Li Xiucheng had no power to resist.  Moreover, Li Xiucheng never thought of resisting at all. In Li Xiucheng's mind, King Xi was a god, a god who could not be offended.  After receiving the order, Li Xiucheng simply told his family a few words and followed the envoy from Suzhou on his way.  On that day, twenty-seven Li Xiucheng's relatives and confidants, including Song Yongqi and Li Mingcheng, were also secretly arrested by Bai Zetang and the Intelligence Department.

    So when Li Xiucheng returned to Suzhou this time, he knew that he might be accused, so his heart was always heavy.  The Ministry of War envoys and soldiers who "escorted" Li Xiucheng along the way were quite polite to him and did not treat him as a prisoner. However, they were followed wherever he went, and Li Xiucheng found that his contact with the outside world had been completely severed.

    After entering Suzhou City, Li Xiucheng was taken directly to the Xiwang Mansion. After arriving at the Xiwang Mansion, he was taken directly to the Xiwang's study.

    In King Xi¡¯s study, Li Xiucheng saw King Xi. He just glanced at King Xi briefly and then bowed to him.Don't dare to look up again.

    When Li Xiucheng paid a visit to the King of the West, he claimed that Li Xiucheng, the sinner, paid a visit to His Highness the King of the West, but the King of the West seemed to ignore him and just waved his hand and ordered his personal guards to go out.  When King Xi's guards closed the study door and went out, only King Xi and Li Xiucheng were left in the room.

    King Xi turned over a file and looked at it without speaking. Li Xiucheng didn't dare to speak, so he just knelt on the ground.  Originally, Li Xiucheng thought that when he went to Suzhou this time, he might go directly to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment and not see King Xi at all. He never expected that King Xi would be willing to see him.  Seeing the Queen of the West, Li Xiucheng became a little scared again. He was afraid of the thunderous wrath of the King of the West. Usually the King of the West looked calm and confident. If the King of the West got angry, what a frightening thing it would be.  .  But Li Xiucheng thought wrong again. King Xi remained silent and ignored him at all.

    In this way, neither of them spoke, one sat and the other knelt, and they were silent for a whole cup of tea.  Finally King Xi broke the silence and suddenly said: "Do you know why I called you back?"

    Li Xiucheng's forehead was dripping with sweat, and he said in a trembling voice: "This subordinate has committed a serious crime and should be taken back to Suzhou and punished."

    King Xi closed the file and said lightly: "What crime have you committed?"

    Li Xiucheng trembled and replied: "My subordinates were not strict with me, and my relatives and generals occupied people's land, extorted money, and embezzled the treasury in Ningbo. They committed seven major crimes and 23 minor crimes under the New Deal Law."

    The King of the West snorted and said: "You have already figured it out." At this point, the King of the West sighed softly and said: "Xiucheng, I am your Bole, but you are not my Chollima, why are you doing this?"  Is it at this point? Do you have anything else to say? "

    Li Xiucheng knew that Xi Wang was giving himself a chance to defend himself, but along the way Li Xiucheng couldn't say a word when he thought about it. Xi Wang's metaphor of Bole and a thousand-mile horse is very appropriate.  Two years ago, he was only a second-level commander, but King Xi gave him many opportunities. It was because of King Xi's unparalleled trust that he, Li Xiucheng, got to where he is today step by step. However, he failed to live up to King Xi's trust.  Regardless of whether he knew what his relatives had done, he didn't have the face to even say a word to beg for mercy or to excuse himself.  A deep sense of guilt made Li Xiucheng feel that he should bear the responsibility. At that moment, Li Xiucheng raised his head slightly and said: "No, I admit my guilt! I have betrayed the trust of the King of the West and deserves death!"

    King Xi patted his palms twice and praised: "Well, you are worthy of being the person I like. He doesn't excuse himself, nor does he seek mercy for his merits. He takes responsibility calmly, which is good."

    After the King of the West praised him twice, Li Xiucheng did not feel happy at all. Instead, he felt even more ashamed. He prostrated himself in the tunnel and said, "I beg the King of the West to grant me the death penalty so that I can set my sights straight."

    The King of the West snorted and suddenly became angry: "Do you think my New Deal laws are nonsense? It is not Xiao Chaogui who has the final say whether you Li Xiucheng dies or not, but the Ministry of Punishment decides the sentence according to the criminal law! Do you want to die? Your life belongs to me.  , I didn¡¯t let you die, and the criminal law didn¡¯t let you die, so you can¡¯t die!¡±

    Li Xiucheng lay on the ground and did not dare to speak anymore. The King of the West said coldly: "I already know the matter very well. You don't know most of the things. But as a general of the Ningbo Army, you are so confused, so derelict in your duties, and you are so reckless."  When your subordinates commit crimes based on your name, the local officials dare not take care of it, and our new policies and laws are completely lost. How can we in the West Palace win the trust of the people? How can we fight for the world if we have no faith in the people? Your sins will be punished by you.  Think carefully! In a few days, the Ministry of Punishment will hear the case publicly, and your guilt will be made public. The punishment will be decided by the Ministry of Punishment according to the law! "

    Li Xiucheng raised his head, with tears already rolling out of his eyes. A man who was seven feet tall was so ashamed that he shed tears, which showed how regretful he was at this time, "I will bear in mind the teachings of the King of the West."

    King Xi said calmly: "Xiucheng, a man must have the courage to face his own mistakes. Death cannot solve the problem. Sometimes he can have the courage to face his mistakes and live on, and continue to realize his ideals with a repentant heart. This is what he wants."  A real man. Have you not forgotten the ideals of us in the West Palace?"

    Li Xiucheng wiped his tears and said: "I have not forgotten, expel the Hu Nu, restore China, and revive the Han family."

    King Xi nodded, stepped forward to help him up and said, "Repent from now on. Remember that I gave you your life. Keep it useful. I will ask you to pay it back in the future."

    Li Xiucheng was so excited that he knelt down again. The King of the West waved his hand and said: "Go down and tell the people in the Ministry of Punishment everything you know. I am not forcing you to kill your relatives out of justice, but you have to sacrifice your life to the soldiers and civilians of Sufu Province."  Please give an explanation to those who have suffered, you are a famous general in the West Palace, not an unknown person, you must be a responsible person, and you must give an explanation to everyone!"

    Li Xiucheng resigned in a daze. Outside the house, officials and soldiers from the Punishment Department were already waiting outside. Ji Wenyuan from the Punishment Department personally came up and read out the arrest warrant. Li Xiucheng was confused.He didn't even hear what Ji Wenyuan was saying. He was just thinking about King Xi asking him to give an explanation to everyone. Wasn't this protecting himself?  (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!
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