Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3724 The sky has fallen, and there is no way to calm down.

Outside the main tent, Fei Qian's personal guards rushed over, delivering a message from Guanzhong.

600-li express delivery?
This urgent report came abruptly.

Fei Qian frowned slightly.

The fact that it was delivered by express courier over 600 li (approximately 300 kilometers) indicates that it was not a military issue, but it was still quite serious.

What happened in Guanzhong?
Something has changed at the rear?

Fei Qian raised his hand and calmly took a bamboo tube about half a foot long from the guard's hand.

The bamboo tube was yellowish-green all over, with a smooth surface. Both ends were sealed tightly with sealing wax, and the deep red lacquer, like congealed blood droplets, was stamped with Fei Zhen's seal...

Did Fei Zhen send it?
Fei Qian's hand paused slightly.

However, Fei Qian did not rush to open it immediately. Instead, as usual, he carefully examined the pattern and hidden marks of the sealing wax seal. After confirming that everything was correct, he used his thumbnail to forcefully scratch along the edge of the seal.

With a soft "pop," the sealing wax cracked, and the bamboo tube lid was lifted.

Fei Qian glanced at Pang Tong and Zhang Liao, then pulled out the silk scroll inside.

The silk scroll was folded neatly into a square, and on it lay Fei Zhen's slightly immature handwriting...

"..."

Fei Qian watched, and the initial doubts he felt upon receiving the urgent report gradually turned into anger.

Then this anger quickly transformed into a concentrated, icy killing intent, causing even the surrounding air to seem to freeze.

Pang Tong and Zhang Liao, who were standing to the side, noticed the unusual aura emanating from their lord almost at the same moment.

Pang Tong appeared to be stroking his beard and looking at the sand table of Gong County, but his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

Zhang Liao stood with his arms crossed, seemingly in the same pose as before, except that his knuckles were slightly whiter.

Now that Fei Qian wields immense power, there are very few things that can anger him.

However, if Fei Qian gets angry, the consequences will be severe...

A suffocating silence lasted for a moment.

Fei Qian put down the silk book and then took a deep breath of the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).

The overflowing killing intent subsided and settled again as Fei Qian's aura stabilized.

When he looked up again, Fei Qian's face had returned to calm, but the icy coldness in the depths of his eyes remained.

no Zuo no Die.

The problem is, there will always be people who try to court death.

Fei Qian handed the silk scroll to Pang Tong, who was closest to him, saying, "This is interesting... Shi Yuan, take a look first..."

Pang Tong took the scroll, unfolded it, and after glancing at it a few times, his beard and eyebrows stood on end, followed by a flush of anger.

Soon, Pang Tong finished reading the silk scroll and, at Fei Qian's prompting, handed it to Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao bowed respectfully and then accepted it.

On the silk scroll, Fei Zhen gave a detailed report on the undercurrents in Guanzhong, especially in the area east of Pingyang River.

On the surface, it appears to be a celebration of a victory, but in reality, some people are already preparing to reap the benefits...

It was highlighted that some local gentry and wealthy merchants were secretly colluding with local officials and even using gold and silver to bribe some impoverished scholars. They were making intensive preparations to submit a joint petition on the grounds that Fei Qian had commanded the great victory in the Heluo region and recovered lost territory!

The core content of the memorial was to earnestly request the emperor to "follow the will of Heaven and the people" and promote General Fei Qian to the rank of "Duke of Jin" and bestow upon him the Nine Bestowments!
They exaggerated Fei Qian's achievements to the point of being unprecedented, as if not bestowing upon him the title of Duke and the Nine Bestowments would be a betrayal of the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people!
"This..." Zhang Liao was greatly surprised after reading it. He looked up at Fei Qian and then at Pang Tong, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Picking peaches is something that has been done throughout history, but this time, isn't it a bit too hasty?

"Heh..." Fei Qian chuckled. "While the soldiers at the front are fighting a bloody battle beneath the walls of Gongxian, leaving mountains of corpses and seas of blood, some back home are already thinking too much, their bones floating on air, eager to bestow titles and honors upon me!"

"This...this is utterly short-sighted! A disastrous act that will bring ruin to the country!" Pang Tong trembled with anger, his beard swaying, and his voice rose slightly. "These sycophants only know how to scheme and plot! They completely disregard the overall situation! If this memorial is presented, where will it place our lord? Won't it put him on the line? And where will it place the emperor? Not only will it give others an excuse to accuse us of 'using our merits to coerce the emperor,' it will also arouse suspicion throughout the land! It will bring no benefit whatsoever, but will only create more obstacles!"

Upon hearing this, Fei Qian nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Zhang Liao.

Although Zhang Liao was not skilled in political intrigue, his years of experience on the battlefield had given him a deep understanding of the treacherous nature of people and the advantages and disadvantages of different situations. After a moment's thought, he said, "My lord, this matter... must not be allowed to continue!"

Zhang Liao didn't explain why it "cannot last long," but Fei Qian and Pang Tong both understood.

Fei Qian stood with his hands behind his back, slowly walking to the tent entrance and looking towards Gong County. He knew all too well the sordid thoughts hidden behind these 'urgings to ascend the throne'...

This clumsy trick has been played out countless times throughout history.

Cao Cao's path to becoming the Duke of Wei and then the King of Wei was essentially a dirty process of forcing political transactions through military monopoly.

Emperor Xian of Han and those royalists who still harbored loyalty to the Han dynasty were gradually purged and marginalized, like a tiger with its teeth pulled out. And what about the aristocratic class, who were supposed to uphold the orthodox tradition?

In order to preserve their own status, land, and the benefits accumulated over generations, they ultimately chose to cooperate with Cao Cao under coercion and enticement, and together they completed this bloody reorganization and redistribution of power.

Morality and loyalty appear so pale and powerless in the face of naked self-interest.

In this evolutionary process, which can be described as the standard procedure for usurping the throne, Confucianism, and those aristocratic sons who claimed to represent Confucianism, almost "creatively" developed a whole set of exquisite and hypocritical methods for "persuading abdication," providing a perfect script template for ambitious people in later generations.

The advanced ceremony of bestowing the Nine Bestowments.

It's like those guys in Guanzhong now clamoring to grant Fei Qian the title of Duke of Jin and the Nine Bestowments.

Why the Nine Bestowments?

Because Wang Mang had also received the Nine Bestowments before he usurped the Han throne!

This is testing the limits of the world, seeing how much resistance this presumptuous act can provoke.

Is there a lot of opposition?
Let's hold off for now.

Is there little opposition, or are only a few out-of-touch individuals jumping out?

Then let's get rid of these opposition figures who are jumping up in protest.

Let the bloody human heads tell everyone that those who go against the tide will die!
With the majority choosing to remain silent, the next step becomes a matter of course.

Afterwards, Cao Cao began using imperial regalia, and the layout of his palace openly imitated the imperial palace. He then appointed Cao Pi as the Crown Prince of Wei, thus legitimizing his hereditary power…

Thus, the once glorious Han Dynasty had become a mere shell of its former self in the hearts of the people.

The silence of most people has transformed from a helpless choice into inevitable compliance, or even active pandering.

In this process of power shifts and moral decay, one point stands out as particularly glaring and deserves deep reflection.

The ignorance of the common people is due to their lack of knowledge and their inherently low social class, but what about the sons of the gentry?
What about those intellectuals from the feudal dynasty who went around shouting that they represented this or that?

Of course, the vast majority of intellectuals in these feudal dynasties were Confucian scholars.

Or rather, what did those aristocratic sons who "represented" Confucianism choose when faced with overwhelming power?
Fei Qian couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

When later generations ridicule the Donglin faction of the late Ming Dynasty for their "itchy scalp and cold water," how many people will delve into the question of what contradictory roles these so-called "great Confucian scholars" and "elites," who considered themselves inheritors of the Confucian tradition and controlled the discourse of the feudal dynasty, actually played at each critical moment of dynastic change and the collapse of social order.
Where did they begin on this path of "schizophrenia"?
Take the Xun family of Yingchuan, a moral exemplar among the aristocratic groups of the Eastern Han Dynasty, as an example. Xun Yu chose to defend the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty and Confucian loyalty with his life, while his nephew Xun You, considering the survival of the family and his personal future, turned to support Cao Cao.

This stark division among core members of the same family starkly reveals the instinctive tendency of the entire aristocratic class to compromise when faced with an irreconcilable rift between ideals and reality.

Those aristocratic intellectuals who usually wear high hats and wide belts, shouting slogans representing "loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness" in the Imperial Academy, the imperial court, and the countryside, and who constantly talk about "cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world," occupy the moral high ground and point fingers at the country.

However, when it comes to the critical moment when it is necessary to stand up and defend the orthodox tradition with one's life, those who dare to fight and are unyielding are always a minority of outliers like Xun Yu.

Most people, however, chose silence out of fear and calculation, or even worse, actively participated in the transactions, using their pens and the so-called "destiny" to give the usurpers a cloak of legitimacy in exchange for an official position or a few acres of fertile land in the new dynasty.

This abdication model, proposed by the Cao family, implemented by the gentry in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and then "carried forward" by the Sima family, is so easily replicated that it is frighteningly reproducible.

The Sima clan almost completely copied Cao Cao's entire operation, even the wording of their petition to ascend the throne was exactly the same, full of hypocritical claims of "the mandate of heaven" and "the will of the people"!
They couldn't even be bothered to cover it up!

By the time of the Southern Dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen, this process had evolved into a fixed routine, like a series of tedious puppet shows. Zhao Kuangyin's ascension to the throne at Chenqiao Post Station was essentially based on this ancient template of "persuasion to abdicate."

……

...Tracing back to the early days of Confucianism, it established principles and ethics for humanity.

They advocated yielding and humility to harmonize the nation, and presented rites and laws to establish a covenant with the imperial court.

I originally intended to use the jade tablet to measure the emperor's power and the compass to reflect the will of Heaven.

However, times change and new rulers emerge, and suddenly the grand ceremony of the imperial palace is adorned, while the emperor treats his subjects like straw dogs.

Discard it like a worn-out broom, and its essence will be destroyed.

All that remains are the empty forms of sacrificial vessels and the hollow echoes of bells and chimes.

To desire to become a whetstone for advancement, to seek longevity like gold and stone, is truly to destroy one's own ambition and clip one's own wings. How tragic!
From then on, the teachings of Confucius—that rulers should be respectful and ministers loyal, each adhering to their proper roles—all vanished like smoke.

Scholars who cherish the spirit of upholding the Way and aspire to achieve benevolence and righteousness have all passed away.

Only an empty shell is seen, which must be sealed with a vermilion seal and cannot be separated from a cinnabar seal, specifically to establish the foundation of its great treasure and to demonstrate the symbol of its mandate.

Thus, the interpretation of the classics was subject to the power of authority, and the structure and interpretation of the texts followed the emperor's orders.

The Way is hidden, yet the instrument remains; how lamentable!

They deceive the public, confuse right and wrong, and fool the people to gain advantage.

……

……

This is precisely the fundamental reason why Confucianism seemed to be the only dominant and enduring school of thought in China's thousands of years of feudal dynasties.

Because it underwent a complete functional transformation, evolving from a positive force that originally attempted to regulate and restrain imperial power into a ruling tool that solely and effectively restrained and tamed the people.

In this process, the upper echelons of all the ruling classes also realized that as long as they could keep the elite class that held the power of discourse silent or cooperate, and make the majority of the people numb and obedient under the ethical principles of Confucianism, then they could do whatever they wanted!

The so-called "mandate of heaven" and "popular support" are nothing but carefully woven lies and wedding gowns that can be changed at any time.

Therefore, whether it's the likes of Dong Zhao in history who vehemently urged Cao Cao to accept the throne, or the gentry, wealthy merchants, and disillusioned scholars in Guanzhong today who are jumping around and eager to bestow the title of Duke of Jin upon Fei Qian, their motives are exactly the same...

Place your bets in advance!

To gain the greatest credit for "persuading the emperor to ascend the throne"!

For themselves, and even more so for their families, they sought greater political capital, higher official positions, more extensive landholdings, and more stable long-term interests in the new dynasty!
In the eyes of these people, has there ever been even a shred of true national identity and the world?
Only naked, disgusting self-interest!

They simply don't understand, or rather, they simply don't care!
This seemingly glorious act of urging someone to ascend the throne will sow the seeds of suspicion, infighting, rebellion, and bloody purges for the subsequent dynasties of China!

How much internal turmoil and unnecessary depletion will this cause!
History has written the answer in blood.

It wasn't just the blood of ambitious people, but even more so the blood of ordinary people!

Why? !

Why should ordinary people bear the consequences of the mistakes made by these ambitious individuals and aristocratic scions?!
"Send the order to Fei Zhen."

Fei Qian's voice was not loud, but every word was as firm as iron, resounding loudly on the ground.

"First, all those on the list who instigated and actively encouraged this movement, regardless of whether they are gentry, wealthy merchants, local officials, or self-righteous scholars, shall be arrested immediately and imprisoned in the prefectural jail! They shall be kept under strict guard; not a single one shall escape! Anyone who resists or attempts to escape shall be executed without exception!"

"Secondly, Gongda is to lead a team, together with the elite guards of the General of the Cavalry, to thoroughly investigate all those involved in this matter! The focus should be on investigating whether they have a history of embezzlement, dereliction of duty, extortion, bribery, land annexation, or exploitation of local communities. In particular, it is crucial to investigate whether any corrupt dealings, such as power-money exchanges or promises of official positions, occurred among these individuals during the period of clamor and encouragement for the emperor's ascension!"

"Third, once the evidence is verified, there's no need to wait for the autumn execution! Punish them severely and swiftly according to the law! Those deserving of death should be beheaded immediately! Those deserving of confiscation of property should have every single piece taken away! Those deserving of forced labor on the frontier should be immediately escorted away! Their numerous crimes should be detailed in official documents and publicly announced throughout the land, proclaiming this to the Guanzhong Plain! Everyone must clearly see the faces of these parasites and their fate!"

Fourth, issue this proclamation to all soldiers and civilians in Guanzhong! At this critical juncture when the national crisis is not yet resolved, anyone who, instead of dedicating their minds to fighting the enemy, serving the country, ensuring the people's livelihood, and restoring vitality, is preoccupied with flattery and currying favor, stirring up empty fame, disrupting the stability of the rear, and undermining the morale of the army and the people—

Fei Qian's voice suddenly rose, carrying the force of thunder, "All such parasites will be punished! The General's Office has strict laws and regulations; a word is law, and there will be no leniency towards evil!"

Fei Qian's orders were far more than simply stopping a farcical attempt to persuade someone to ascend the throne; they were an attempt to use the opportunity to unleash a storm—a purge against all opportunists and corrupt officials in the rear.

Use the heads of these people and their confiscated, filthy property to deter all those cunning and opportunistic scoundrels!

Use this ruthless purge to rectify the somewhat impetuous atmosphere in the rear!
This was also a clear declaration of Fei Qian's stance to the world.

Success is achieved through bloody battles and bloody fights, one sword and one spear!

It is absolutely not something that can be obtained through such petty acts of flattery and empty talk!
Want a promotion? Sure!
But you must use your energy for the right things!
Use it to pacify the people, strengthen the military, and recover lost territories. Anyone who tries to take the "shortcut to success" will not have a good ending!

"My lord..." Pang Tong had also recorded Fei Qian's orders, but he hesitated slightly. "My lord... won't this implicate many people...?"

To Pang Tong's surprise, Fei Qian nodded. "There will definitely be."

"So... does our lord intend to take such drastic action?" Pang Tong frowned. "Our lord... intends to use this incident to establish rules?"

Fei Qian did not deny it, pointing to Fei Zhen's urgent report, "The weapons of killing in this world are far more than just swords and spears; and those who stir up trouble are not limited to today."

If Fei Qian doesn't react immediately and take this matter seriously, then many people will inevitably jump out to try and smooth things over, saying things like "It's all fine now," "Let's each take a step back," and "Let's be more magnanimous"...

Regardless of the specific action, it is often driven by a struggle for interests.

People throughout history and across the world may be different, but their humanity remains the same.

Reasonable and legal pursuit of interests should be supported, but it should not be excessive, and rights should not be emphasized at the expense of obligations!
……

……

Holding the ruler of fairness and the handle of the scale, we are the common people, and the embodiment of the principles of Heaven.

However, there are unscrupulous individuals who confuse the truth with the facts and disrupt the established order.

They stir up trouble and spread misinformation; they create discord and sow discord, tearing apart the bonds of friendship.

Thus, minor flaws turned into deep ravines, and minor disagreements turned into open conflict.

What should have been a moment of reconciliation has instead turned into a raging fire!
What they did was certainly not for the public good.

They actually wanted to shirk their responsibilities and delegate tasks that were supposed to be done.

Taking advantage of the turmoil, they seized other people's profits, secretly plotted against others, and enriched themselves by stealing the seal.

They further exploited their own wealth to fill their private granaries, and shaved their flesh and bones to build high platforms.

They set their own standards, privately cast bronze vessels, and calmly accepted the fruits of their labor, reaping the benefits as if it were their own right!

Alas, is this not the original intention of upholding fairness and impartiality?
In reality, they are using the guise of a shared resource to indulge their gluttonous desires!

……

……

Isn't this exactly the same thing that those people in Guanzhong are doing right now who are trying to "reap the benefits"?
In the eyes of those who were preparing to use the name of "Duke of Jin" to seek personal gain, anyone who raised an objection was guilty of "original sin"!

By using the name of "original sin," those who reap the benefits can escape their due obligations and responsibilities, receiving without giving, or giving little and receiving much!

As for why these people who reap the benefits are so full of flaws, yet they still enjoy doing it so much...

Because there will always be honest people who will compromise, tolerate, become complacent, or even be foolish!

It's like if Fei Qian doesn't deal with this seriously this time, there will inevitably be a second batch, a third batch, and even an endless stream of rats jumping out to steal the fruits!
By then, the trouble will be much bigger than it is now, involving many more things and people!
Then, the more hesitant he became to act against the rats, the harder it was to control the situation, and the number of rats in the house kept increasing...

……

……

Behold, the rats burrow through the walls, the foxes occupy the ancestral shrine; the stench rises to the clouds, and the millet granaries are ravaged. At this time, the might of thunder should be unleashed, the fury of boiling water and fire swiftly applied. How can we, with womanly benevolence, nurture a festering sore, delaying until the year ends? As for the overturning of the cooking pots and the crumbling of the sacrificial vessels, it is all due to the filth left by petty villains, the stench of which has lingered for too long. What is there to regret in destroying them? In fact, it will reveal a clear and bright heaven!

If one cherishes worn-out utensils while keeping filth, and lingers over scraps, one will inevitably allow poison to seep into one's very marrow, bringing calamity to the entire nation. In the past, Zichan burned books to stop slander, and Shang Yang moved a log to establish trust; both sacrificed rubble to preserve precious jade, and discarded rotten mustard to protect fine grain. Therefore, it is said: "If you do not cut off the claws of jackals and wolves, you will ultimately lose the territory of bears and tigers!"
……

……

Pang Tong quickly understood and readily agreed, then immediately sent Fei Qian's order to Guanzhong...

Some inconsistencies are due to historical anecdotes related to investigation.