The revitalization of the Tang Dynasty began with the Ganlu Incident.

Chapter 103: Fighting Until They Call a Halt

While Li Deyu and the others waited anxiously in the side hall, in the inner hall of Zichen, Ximen Jixuan and Wang Wengan stood respectfully below the steps, holding the confessions they had just received.

"So, according to Li Shengrong, he was temporarily blinded by greed and accepted a bribe from Guo Zhongwen, which is why he secretly tipped him off?"

Li Ang looked at the confession in front of him, sneered, and asked.

Ximen Jixuan and Wang Wengan exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with fear, but they still had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer.

"Reply to everyone, the time is too short. Li Shengrong is only willing to admit these things. Please give us a few more days. We will definitely pry his mouth open completely."

That's the truth.

You should know that before they came today, they didn't even know what had happened.

Half an hour is still too short to extract such a crucial secret, even with torture.

However, Li Ang did not speak. He simply closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before opening them and asking.

"What do you two think should be done with Li Shengrong?"

These words were spoken in a calm tone, but to the two of them they were like a thunderclap.

They raised their heads slightly, sizing up the young saint, and a sense of awe arose in their hearts.

Ximen Jixuan said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Li Shengrong was appointed as a commander by Your Majesty's grace, but he has betrayed the Emperor's favor by leaking information without authorization. This is a serious crime. I think his property should be confiscated and he should be demoted to the lowest rank of servant as a warning to others."

Upon hearing this, Li Ang glanced at him without saying anything, and then turned his gaze to Wang Wengan.

Upon seeing this, the latter swallowed hard, her eyes hardening, and said, "Everyone, I think this kind of traitor should not be allowed to live."

This simple sentence reveals Wang Wenqian's ruthless nature.

Of the three from the Eastern Depot, Ximen Jixuan had the best temper and acted with the most discretion. In comparison, Wang Wengan was much more decisive and ruthless.

As for Li Shengrong, he was the most low-key and "honest," but it now seems that this "honesty" was mostly a pretense.

After the two finished speaking, Li Ang still did not express his opinion, but simply tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

The soft thuds echoed in the quiet hall, as if striking everyone's heart.

Finally, Li Ang spoke, his gaze falling on Ximen Jixuan below.

"Ximen Jixuan, how did I punish you for acting on your own last time?"

Upon hearing this, Ximen Jixuan's heart tightened, and he hesitated before saying, "Please be merciful, everyone. I was only given thirty strokes of the cane..."

"Very well." Li Ang nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I can't show favoritism. Li Shengrong is also a member of the Eastern Depot. You were flogged last time, so I'll punish you with the same punishment this time. Let's leave him outside the palace and tie him up for the flogging!"

These words sounded ordinary, but the oppressive atmosphere in the hall did not ease in the slightest.

Ximen Jixuan hesitated for a moment. Although she already had an answer in her heart, she still couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, how much punishment should be given?"

Li Ang glanced at him, then looked away without answering. He simply said, "Wang Wengan, you arrange the manpower to carry out the execution. Ximen Jixuan will supervise the execution."

As soon as the words were spoken, the two men trembled inwardly, but looking up at the sage's cold eyes, they dared not utter a word and could only reply.

"This servant obeys..."

After saying this, the two stood up, took two steps back, and slowly left the main hall.

Only then did Qi Baozhen hesitate before speaking, asking, "Everyone, Li Shengrong is a traitor, he deserves to die, but...should we not continue the interrogation?"

"Interrogate what?" Li Ang snorted coldly, his tone still clearly carrying a hint of displeasure: "Interrogate him about why he tipped off Guo Zhongwen?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Baozhen was taken aback at first, but then he understood.

Now that it's been confirmed that Li Shengrong is the one in the Eastern Depot who relays messages outwards, everything else becomes less important.

Perhaps Li Shengrong was telling the truth, that he had accepted bribes from Guo Zhongwen, which is why he helped him. Or perhaps he wasn't telling the truth, and that he helped Guo Zhongwen by sending a message because of Empress Dowager Guo's influence, or even because he was authorized by Empress Dowager Guo.

But regardless of which scenario it is, Li Shengrong's fate is already sealed.

Moreover, it's better to keep things quiet so that everyone can save face. If things are really brought up, it will only make things more difficult to back down.

Now that Li Shengrong claims he accepted bribes and leaked information, we should just kill him.

But if we really force him to reveal that he was instructed by Xingqing Palace, or even if he produced some kind of evidence, then we would have to consider Empress Dowager Guo's feelings, which would make things difficult.

Moreover, even if testimony is obtained, it is actually very difficult to bring it to the table.

After all, if the fact that the commander of the Eastern Depot colluded with the imperial relatives and leaked secrets from the palace were to spread, it would be a very shameful thing for Li Ang and Empress Dowager Guo.

In comparison, directly beating Li Shengrong to death would have had a far more effective deterrent effect on the Eastern Depot than uncovering an untouchable "truth".

"Alright, go and summon Li Deyu and the others into the hall..."

Li Ang didn't spend too much time on this matter. Instead, he composed himself and continued to give instructions.

How to deal with Li Shengrong is a minor matter; the real difficulty lies with Guo Zhongwen…

A short while later, Li Deyu and the others in the side hall received a summons.

After tidying up a bit, they followed the eunuch who had come to deliver the message toward the inner palace.

As they stepped out from under the corridor, the group was about to enter the hall when they suddenly saw that the outer square was brightly lit. At the same time, a man who looked like a eunuch was brought in and forced down onto a bench.

At the same time, Ximen Jixuan and Wang Wengan walked out of the hall.

"Greetings, Lord Li; greetings, both Commanders; and Prefect Xue..."

Upon encountering them, it was impossible to ignore them. Ximen Jixuan bowed to the group, and Li Deyu nodded in response.

Then, he asked hesitantly, "Gentlemen, what are we doing in this square?"

While Ximen Jixuan was still hesitating, Wang Wengan, who was standing to the side, had already spoken up and replied: "Reporting to the Prime Minister, the one being escorted is Li Shengrong, the former commander of the Eastern Depot. The Eastern Depot has just discovered that he leaked secrets from the Forbidden City without authorization. The Emperor has ordered that he be publicly flogged as a warning to others."

"Caning?" Liu Hongyi was the first to react. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he quickly asked the same question Ximen Jixuan had asked earlier: "How much caning?"

Wang Wengan looked up, a respectful smile appearing on his face, but his voice was chillingly cold: "Since the Sage didn't say so, then naturally we will fight until we receive an imperial edict to stop..."

Everyone present understood perfectly what those words meant.

At that moment, everyone couldn't help but exchange glances, all of them seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Such a severe punishment suggests that the sage was truly enraged this time...