Father Han Gaozu

Chapter 353 A Tyrant Who Executes Benevolent Governance

Empress Lu sat alone in the Changle Palace.

Even though there are a lot of people around her at the moment, crying and constantly comforting her, these voices just make her feel a little annoyed.

Lu Yu cried very sadly. She only said one sentence, and her tears could not help falling. Among the brothers and sisters of the Lu family, Lu Yu was the closest to Lu Shizhi, while Lu Zhi had the best relationship with the eldest brother Lu Ze. , Of course, this does not mean that Empress Lu does not like Lu Shizhi, and the death of Lu Shizhi made her very sad.

Apart from her younger sister and daughter, Princess Lu Yuan also loves this uncle very much.

There are also Da Cao, Xiao Cao, and Fan Qing.

The most powerful women in the big man gathered around Empress Lu. Compared with their cries, Empress Lu seemed a little too calm. Lu Ru said sadly, "My brother has left, and his three sons will be alone from now on. The eldest sister can give them titles separately, so that they will not be bullied in the future."

"No need."

Empress Lu refused her sister's request.

Lu Yu looked at her in a daze, and asked incredulously: "When the elder brother passed away, you named both of his sons marquis, after the eldest sister passed away, you also named her son marquis, now the second brother When you die, why don't you want to be canonized?"

Empress Lu took a deep breath and waved her hand dismissively, "Go back."

"Big sister! You!"

Empress Lu turned her head abruptly. Under her eyes, Lu Yu didn't dare to say more, and swallowed all the words. She stood up, her eyes were full of sadness, and she walked out trembling, seeing her this Seeing this, Princess Lu Yuan couldn't bear it, and hurriedly said, "Mother! Why is this?

However, when Empress Lu started to stare at her, Liu Le didn't dare to speak.

For a moment, the hall was silent, and no one dared to speak again.

When Lu Yu walked out of the hall in grief and anger, she happened to meet Liu Chang who came here. Lu Yu looked in a trance, and almost ran into Liu Chang, but Liu Chang was quick and hurriedly supported her, "Aunt? You are not Are you accompanying your mother? Why are you in such a hurry to go back?"

Seeing Liu Chang, Lu Yu couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears.

"Long, the second brother also made a great record. At the beginning, he was busy with the Queen Mother's affairs. I didn't expect it to be so unloved by the Queen Mother!"

Immediately, she informed Liu Chang that the queen mother refused to confer the son of the second brother as Marquis Che.

Liu Chang listened very carefully, nodding his head from time to time.

"Auntie is right!"

"How can she be like this?!"

"My eldest uncle, as well as the children of my aunt's family, have all been sealed as Hou, how come they are not sealed when they reach the second uncle?!"

Liu Chang said loudly, Lu Yu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly took his hand, "Chang, your grandmother listens to you the most, come and do it."

Liu Chang patted his chest with his hand, "Don't worry, I will handle this matter well, the children of the eldest uncle's family, the children of the aunt's family, and even the children of the grandmother's distant relatives, are now all Being named Hou, enjoying the glory and wealth, this kind of wealth cannot be enjoyed by them alone!"

Lu Yu was about to nod her head when suddenly, she remembered something, and her face suddenly stiffened.

The eldest brother's son, Lu Tai, was dismissed because of a drinking mistake and nearly died. The elder sister's son, Lu Ping, was directly executed for selling weapons. There are also many Lu family princes, eight out of ten were dismissed for various reasons. put to death, exile
Lu Yu shuddered, and immediately woke up, shaking her head hastily, "Forget it, forget it, forget it!"

"How can this be counted? Aunt, don't worry! I will personally send them a career and make them worry-free for the rest of their lives!"

Liu Chang walked into the hall as he spoke, and Lu Yu was in a panic.

"I already understand, you are still mad at me at this time?!"

"Auntie, then go back with me and accompany grandma."

"But she told me to go back."

"Why are you the same as my second brother? If you tell me to come back, then go back? Learn from my grandfather. When grandma told my grandfather to go away, if my grandfather really left, it would not be. There is my second brother, right? A mother is like a child, she is easy to talk to, as long as she pesters her, she will agree to anything, I have been like this since I was a child."

Liu Chang proudly talked about his own less glorious deeds.

Liu Chang returned to the hall with Lu Yu.

Sure enough, just as Liu Chang said, Empress Lv didn't ask her sister why she still didn't leave. Chang Liu was very experienced in how to treat her mother. As long as she didn't contradict her, she would just say anything. Head, cheeky smirk, holding her arm coquettishly, then it must be all right.

Of course, this method is only limited to the relatives of the Queen Mother, and it is not recommended for outsiders to try it.

When Chang Liu arrived, Cao Shu led these people to the other hall to rest, and let the mother and son chat alone for a while.

"Mum. Uncle's affairs have been arranged. Do you really want to send him to Shanfu County for burial?"

"This is your uncle's last wish."

Liu Chang nodded, and then said, "Uncle died peacefully, and my mother doesn't need to be too sentimental. There is one thing I don't know how to tell my mother."

Seeing Liu Chang's hesitant appearance, Empress Lu was very unhappy, "Are you going to kill the Emperor Taishang?"

"Huh? Of course not."

"Then what are you screwing about!"

Liu Chang was silent for a long time before he said: "Uncle is going to be transported to Father Shan for burial. I found that Lu Lu and the others had prepared a lot of funerary items for my uncle, gold, silk, armor, weapons, and even war horses. The jades, bronzes, irons, and even the burials are all gold thread jade garments. Ah, mother, this is too much."

"I know it's not good to say this at such a time, but it's not an uncommon situation."

"The style of burial of the great man, even many poor people, who are reluctant to eat and wear before their death, have to enjoy it as a burial item after death. Those who are the princes and the like are even more outrageous. When my brother was buried, his children died for the sake of To show one's filial piety, one must use gold to make armor as a funeral item."

"This ethos cannot be tolerated any longer."

"A lot of supplies are buried in the soil. It's such a waste."

Liu Chang talked about his own thoughts, and glanced at his mother secretly again, and said: "I know that my mother loves my uncle very much, but this matter must be banned, it can only start from my close relatives, if I don't object this time. , and if they order and prohibit them in the future, they will despise the law of thin burial by virtue of their own status and by my love.”

"I'm going to give an order to forbid mass burials. Beginning with my uncle, after my death, I will never bring too many funeral items. Set an example."

After listening to Liu Chang's words, Empress Lu slowly glanced at him.

"Your uncle passed away, everyone is sad about it, but you are thinking about the style of burial?"

"Ah yes."

Unexpectedly, after Liu Chang's admission, Empress Lv didn't show any anger at all. Her somewhat lonely eyes suddenly became gentle. She looked quite relieved, "You should have ascended the throne sooner."

"You finally began to look around with the eyes of an emperor. You are right. The style of thick burial is inappropriate. You have thought about it for a long time, and I have never thought of this. You can order it, if your uncle Over there, there are people who object, and I will persuade them to accept it."

Empress Lu was really very happy, and she didn't even notice the thick burial.

It seems that the children from home have finally grown up. As Liu Chang said, the style of thick burials is becoming more and more popular nowadays.The style of thick burial in the Western Han Dynasty was something that later generations could not imagine. In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the country was in a mess, and there were no six horses of the same color in the temples. Where can the six horses of the same color be found?Can be found underground.

People do not have iron tools to make agricultural tools, so where can iron tools be found?Can be found underground.

The thick burials in the Western Han Dynasty once reached an outrageous level. Tons of burials were made of gold alone. As a result, gold was not enough later, and gold turned from gold to brass.

In history, Emperor Wen could not stand this kind of thick burial and set an example. However, Emperor Wen never ordered a thin burial. He only advocated a thin burial through his own behavior. The charm of Emperor Wen supported two generations. The wind jumped up and became even more exaggerated. This trend continued until the end of the Han Dynasty, when a certain unnamed wife ordered a ban on thick burials, and his son also inherited this from his father. After their efforts , has only been improved.

Therefore, when Liu Chang clearly proposed a thin burial, Empress Lv immediately thought of a lot, and the original sadness because of Jiancheng Hou also improved a lot.

Her son is promising, and she has nothing to worry about in the world of the big man.

Liu Chang grinned, and Empress Lv also made good suggestions for Liu Chang's ideas.

When Liu Chang and her negotiated and walked out of Changle Palace triumphantly, Zhang Shizhi was waiting for him.

"Your Majesty, can the Queen Mother allow the minister's proposal?"

"Originally she didn't agree, but after I argued with reason and put forward a lot of my own ideas, she agreed to our proposal."

Zhang Shizhi was silent for a moment. Throughout the ages, he has never heard of a king who competed with his ministers for merit, even Xia Jie and Shang Zhou, although he did all kinds of evil, he never heard of one who took the merits of his ministers as his own. Said that in some respects, the king has already reached a level that makes Xia Jie and Shang Zhou feel ashamed, and in the Jie Zhou imitation competition, they can only take second place.

However, it's not bad, the king is a little bit greedy, a little pompous, a little cruel, a little good at wine and meat, a little unreasonable, a little arrogant, a little flattering, and a little bit has no shortcomings.

Despite this, Zhang Shizhi still doesn't mind the little shortcomings of the king. After all, the advantage of his own king is that he can listen to any useful advice, such as his own suggestion for a thin burial, that is, his own king can listen to it and change it. When the emperor comes, he either refuses or encourages his will, and he will not really order it to be executed.

Because of the prevalence of thick burials, almost all the princes and the princes are like this. To stop them from being buried in a small way is to openly challenge all the powerful people in the world. Without a certain majesty and real power, it is impossible to do this at all.The power of a king has something to do with the system, but it also has a lot to do with the king himself.

The same system, Liu Ying may not be able to do it, and Emperor Wen in history may be reluctant, but Liu Chang can do it. This is not to say that Liu Chang is stronger than Emperor Wen's methods. The main thing is that Liu Chang is stupid enough. Dare to do, do not consider the consequences.

Zhang Shizhi still likes such a king. As long as he can realize his ambitions, the credit is given to the king, so what?
"Your Majesty! When will we implement it?"

"Implement it today, and help me find San Gong!"

"only!"

Zhang Shizhi likes the resolute style of the king. He never delays, just do it when he thinks of it.

Liu Chang sat in the Hall of Houde, with meat piled up in front of him, feasting.

Zhou Chang frowned immediately, "Your Majesty, as Hou Jiancheng passed away, you are a junior. Even if you don't observe filial piety, you shouldn't."

Liu Chang didn't care about this, he waved his hand, "Uncle loves me the most, he might be more happy to see me eating meat than I would kneel in front of his grave and cry! I didn't ask you to come here to eat meat. things, there are other more important things.”

Zhou Chang was helpless, Zhao Ping, and Zhang Budo also sat down one after another. Liu Chang glanced at them and felt that the number of people was still not enough, so he asked Zhang Shizhi to send Chen Ping, Chai Wu, Liu Jing, Feng Jing, good brothers. , Shusun Tong, Wang Tianqi and others called over, mainly the three princes and nine ministers gathered together.

After everyone came one after another, Liu Chang just spoke his thoughts.

"Mozi said: The things that decorate the people are the rules of the common people."

"Han Zi said: winter clothes in winter, summer clothes in summer, three-inch tong coffin, two days of mourning."

"People today care about death rather than life. Today's children don't raise them when their elders are still alive. When people are gone, they have to compare themselves with funeral objects and do their filial piety."

"I really don't want to, and I really can't bear it."

Liu Chang suddenly quoted the words of Mo Zi and Han Zi, and showed his contempt for today's thick burial style. He looked like a wise king, which made the three princes and nine ministers stunned. How could the king be different when he became an emperor?The king is suddenly so wise, and the ministers are really unable to adapt. This is not like what the king can say.

Zhou Chang was very gratified. If he had known that the king had become so wise after he ascended the throne, then he would not have been so opposed to the king's enthronement.

"Your Majesty is right! It should be so! Buried thinly and raised well! True benevolence!"

Zhou Chang was the first to agree, while the rest of the ministers had different expressions. Like Chai Wu, he felt that there was no need to prohibit it. "Your Majesty, there is no need to intervene in this family matter."

There are also staunch supporters like Zhang Budo, "Your Majesty says what you say! Your Majesty said a thin burial, who would dare to mention a thick burial?!"

According to Liu Chang's proposal, the group of ministers started to negotiate. A thin burial is not in line with Confucian traditions, but for a great Confucian like Shusun Tong, Confucianism has no tradition. It all depends on the king's preferences. Confucianism has some traditions.

"His Majesty's burial is to reduce the pressure on those filial heirs, and to pity them, so that they will not be burdened by false names."

"Your Majesty's words are generous, so that the younger generation can better serve the elders. It is to fulfill filial piety! Your Majesty is so benevolent!"

After Shusuntong's remarks, he set the nature of Liu Chang's proposal. Everyone looked complicated. Logically speaking, shouldn't you Confucians strongly oppose it?Why did you promise so quickly? ?

Liu Chang watched the group of ministers negotiate, and continued to maintain that merciful look, sighed, and continued: "What Uncle Sun Gong said makes sense."

"Sons today don't filial piety to their parents. When they die, they are buried with gorgeous things. How can such a son be called filial? And such an old man, how can he say that he has lived a very good life? All right? Wouldn't it be better for them to enjoy these things for burial before they died?"

Everyone nodded, since His Majesty wanted to propose a thin burial, they had nothing else to say, just agreed.

Liu Chang continued: "I am a prince of benevolence and righteousness. I cannot see the suffering of the people. Such extravagance and waste are useless to the living. How can I do it? You must serve your parents well, elders must love their children well, and you can no longer judge your filial piety with funeral objects. head!!!!"

At that moment, the ministers were stunned.

His Majesty's rhetoric jumped from a warm and kind gentleman to another extreme without a tip. The previous words were all fine, but as soon as the latter words came out, the whole paragraph suddenly changed.

"No! Your Majesty!"

Zhaoping said sadly: "Your Majesty's words in front of you are the words of a benevolent monarch, but the order behind, hey, Your Majesty, let the minister handle this matter."

Zhaoping has always been very concerned about Liu Chang's reputation. As soon as the last sentence came out, His Majesty's image changed from a virtuous ruler to a tyrant. He couldn't tolerate this. , how could they dig people's graves just because they were buried? Xia Jie and Shang Zhou did not dare to do so.

But Liu Chang's attitude is very clear, he said angrily: "You don't think wrong! I didn't mean to remind them that they should be buried and supported, but I was ordering! If there is no punishment, how can they listen to the widow's orders? Just do it according to the widow's will, but I want to see, who dares to disobey my orders again!"

"Your Majesty! This matter must be slowed down first and then urgent, and cannot be ordered directly!"

"I just ordered it, what can you do?"

Liu Chang suddenly became extremely vicious, and there was no place where he still had the kind appearance of Fang Cai.

"Zhang Shizhi, you come to handle this!"

"At the same time, I have to order that after I die, no burial is allowed! Just prepare me a set of normal armor, and nothing else. If the future minister dares to object, he will be cut off! Execute him. The three clans!! No, punish his five clans!! I don’t have any burials anymore, let’s see who else dares to bury them, the same goes for the princes and princes.

"Also, this matter of keeping filial piety is really too cumbersome. When you are alive, you don't see it once a year, but when you die, you have to guard it for several months to show your filial piety? Fart! In the future, the filial piety period will be changed to three days! The leave is seven days! Don't allow everyone to resign from office and keep filial piety for two or three years because of the death of their parents!"

"From the beginning, after I die, let them be filial piety for three days, and those who dare to keep one more day will be decapitated and fed like a dog!"

The ministers just looked at the king quietly, no matter how merciful the policy was, it could suddenly become a tyranny when it came out of the king's mouth.

The virtue of the king is innumerable, and the government of the king is even fiercer than tigers.

ps: Brothers, I’m really sorry, my child has always had a fever recently, because of the high fever and got meningitis. I’m quite optimistic, but I can’t bear it lately. I was restless yesterday and couldn’t update it. Also It’s not good to always issue a single chapter to tell you about these. I don’t like to always tell others about my difficulties. I can only hope that everyone can understand. Whenever there is a chance, I will definitely update it.

(End of this chapter)