I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

Chapter 510 The emperor is seriously ill and is so cunning that he forces his way into the palace!

At first, when the emperor issued an edict to move millions of families to Pingling, Zhang Anshi and others did not feel too much crisis.

After all, the migration of people to fill the mausoleums has happened in the past dynasties. Although it will cause harm to the interests of some aristocratic families, it is still a established system.

Moreover, Zhang Anshi and others firmly believe in one thing——

Although the emperor sometimes behaves rudely, he is still young after all. As long as they show affection, the emperor is willing to listen to their advice.

They dare not say that they can make the emperor give up the idea of ​​emigrating the people, but at least they can reduce the blow to the wealthy families.

In their hearts, aristocratic families are the cornerstone of the Han Dynasty and cannot be "offended" at will.

However, since Prime Minister Wei and his troops "missed a trace", the emperor became ill.

At first Zhang Anshi and others thought that the emperor was really ill.

But when they received news from the three counties and learned that Prime Minister Wei was leading five thousand guards to attack the three counties, they vaguely realized that the emperor's "sickness" was sudden.

Zhang Anshi and others had a very bad premonition that the situation in the three counties might become uncontrollable.

As a result, Zhang Anshi and other cabinet bachelors who could enter and leave the palace gradually became unable to sit still and began to go to Qingliang Hall every day to pay their respects.

It was said to be a greeting, but the real purpose was of course to remonstrate, hoping that the emperor would recall Prime Minister Wei quickly and not let this cruel official harm the three counties.

Unexpectedly, the emperor's illness became worse day by day.

For half a month, Zhang Anshi and others would be stopped by Fan Ke, the young waiter, when they arrived at Qingliang Hall every day, no matter whether they invited them early or late.

Not to mention that they had met the Emperor, they had not even heard a single ounce of the Emperor's voice.

In order to be able to remonstrate with the emperor, Zhang Anshi even took the risk of asking his sister Zhang Jieyu to insinuate him.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Jieyu also fell ill within a few days, and she never saw Zhang Anshi again.

All these anomalies made Zhang Anshi and his "comrades" alert.

Chang'an City was still as quiet and peaceful as before, but they looked nervously to the east toward the three counties, vaguely feeling that a terrifying storm was brewing.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for news that shocked and shocked Zhang Anshi and others to reach Chang'an City one after another.

Prime Minister Wei beheaded Han Buhai, the governor of Henan County, on the charge of treason.

Prime Minister Wei raided the Lu family, the first family in Henan County, for resisting the imperial edict.

Prime Minister Wei forcibly moved a millionaire's family, forced him to donate money and grain to Captain Shuiheng, and forced him to sell land, fields and houses at a low price...

These news caused an uproar among the aristocratic families in Chang'an City.

Suddenly, the heroes and cunning people were excited, and the voices of criticism and crusade were endless.

The rumor that "the prime minister of Wei is cruel to officials" spread a lot.

There were even some daring people who went so far as to gather a crowd in front of the Wei Mansion to cause trouble, throwing bricks, stones and clods of earth into the courtyard, so that the Wei family did not dare to go out even half a step.

What is even more unexpected is that the emperor, who has not been involved in political affairs for most of the month, is particularly vigorous and resolute in dealing with these troublemakers.

The sick emperor directly issued an edict to Zhijinwu Anle, asking him to investigate the matter strictly.

This Anle was bent on climbing up and carrying out the emperor's edict without any hesitation.

With the help of Xiuyiwei, Anle conducted secret inspections and arrested dozens of "troublemakers" in just ten days.

According to the past "rules", if Zhijinwu achieves this step, he can stop.

Unexpectedly, all the troublemakers were handed over by Zhi Jinwu to the hands of the prison edict Chen Xiu.

Chen Xiu was also very capable. After being tortured, the troublemakers were able to reveal the person behind them.

This black hand is naturally the eldest son and second son, as well as some officials and branches of wealthy families originally from the three counties.

So, Chang'an City was escorted for five days.

All officials and wealthy people involved in this matter, no matter how high their moral standing, no matter how old their achievements are, no matter how old they are, will all be punished according to the crime of lese majeste.

Convict, sentence, confiscate homes, arrest people!

The whole process is very skillful and fast. Under Kong Ba's control, Tingwei Temple was running continuously for twelve hours a day, and the speed of judging cases was astonishing.

It was only at this time that Zhang Anshi and others finally understood that the imperial power after the New Deal reforms had amplified the imperial power countless times.

Before the restructuring, the emperor could only manage the government through the "Prime Minister", "General" and "Shang Shu Office", which had many constraints.

But now the situation is completely different.

Whatever the emperor wants to do, he can directly issue an edict to the chiefs of the Jiuqing and the Second Mansion, without going through the cabinet at all.

The cabinet has become a decoration.

Most of the officials in charge of the actual affairs of the Jiuqing and the Second Mansion are officials promoted by the emperor.

They may not all come from humble backgrounds, but at least they are not from wealthy families.

In addition, the emperor was kind to them, so these people followed the emperor's lead and did not give Zhang Anshi and others any face.

Zhang Anshi and others went to Guan Guan secretly, hoping that they would be merciful and wanted them to come together to admonish the emperor.

But the result disappointed Zhang Anshi and others. Without exception, these people rejected the former's request softly or hard.

What Zhang Anshi, Wei Xian and others did not expect was that the Chang'an Confucian scholars did not completely side with them this time: in other words, most of the Confucian scholars sided with the emperor.

It turned out that the "Sacred Scripture of Hadith" revised by the emperor had been engraved on more than a hundred stone tablets in Beique Square.

Official schools have also used the "Sacred Sutras of Hadith" as the only scripture taught, and the sages' speeches of Chang'an City have been erected next to the high temple, where the emperor was sacrificed in the name of the sage.

The ideas about the "universal world" and "people-oriented" contained in the "Sacred Sutras of Hadith" have long been gradually spread among scholars.

These "advanced" views resonated with most Confucian scholars, and they quickly understood the emperor's purpose and intention of attacking the wealthy families.

Most Confucian scholars, especially the most energetic young Confucian scholars, far from feeling that the Emperor was at fault, thought that the Emperor was wise and benevolent.

As for those gentry and Confucian scholars who defended the wealthy families, they inevitably became a minority of "reactionaries."

This small amount of opposition only stirred up a few discussions at the beginning, and then was suppressed by the momentum of the Confucian scholars from poor families.

In addition, the emperor not only had the support of Confucian scholars, but also had tens of thousands of newly trained Han troops as backing.

Then he can naturally sit in the Qingliang Hall and ignore the appeals of Zhang Anshi and others on the grounds that "I am sick".

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Anshi and others took out the last resort method used by courtiers to deal with the emperor - to kneel down in the square of the North Square of Weiyang Palace to remonstrate!

Last year, the Confucian scholars who caused trouble also did such a thing, but ultimately failed.

But this time there is something different. The people kneeling at the north gate of Weiyang Palace are not unofficial Confucian scholars, but prominent pillars of the court and wealthy families.

Zhang Anshi and others are sure that the emperor will not remain indifferent.

But—everything has a but—

Starting from May 20th, Zhang Anshi and a group of three assistants and cunning people went to Beique Square to kneel for seven days.

Qingliang Hall is always quiet.

Not to mention that the emperor personally came out to comfort them, he didn't even send an envoy. It seems that the people kneeling outside this gate are not the powerful cabinet bachelors, but insignificant servants and hired workers.

No, if the person kneeling on Beique Guangshang was a slave or a hired worker, the sun would definitely show up early.

So, the monarch and his ministers started fighting.

The ones who suffered the most were, of course, Zhang Anshi and the others.

Although they were extremely dissatisfied with the emperor's actions, they still had to go to the cabinet duty room in Weiyang Palace on time every day to vote.

After all the things that should be done were done, he hurried to the north gate and joined the team kneeling to the emperor.

At first, Zhang Anshi and others were determined to win, thinking that the emperor would definitely admit defeat.

As the days went by, they became more and more unsure, and it seemed that they could not see how it would end in the end.

When the news that "cabinet academicians led the kneeling remonstrance" spread, the city of Chang'an was shaken for several days, and there were many onlookers.

Within a few days, the people lost interest: after all, poor families and ordinary people have no common interests with the wealthy families.

……

At this time, it was already too late. Zhang Anshi and others left the office early. After eating a small Hu cake in a hurry, they came here to kneel down and remonstrate.

According to the agreement, they would kneel until Xu every day before leaving.

At this time, the sun had already set in the west, but the heat emitted by the setting sun was equally intense, even hotter than at noon.

Zhang Anshi, the four bachelors, had only been kneeling for half an hour when they felt that the right side of their bodies was hot and hot.

Zhang Anshi, Liu De and Bingji are in their prime, so they can still persist.

Poor Wei Xian is already over 70 years old. After several days in a row, he has become a little overwhelmed.

Zhang Anshi knelt up straight. He looked at Wei Xian who was a little tired beside him, and couldn't help but frown and sigh.

This tone not only lamented that the emperor did not listen to the advice of his ministers, but also lamented that Wei Xian, a loyal minister, had to suffer such a big hardship.

"Mr. Wei Ge, you are old and frail. Please go back and rest for now. There is no need to waste time here with us..."

"I am here to watch. If there is an edict from the county magistrate, I will immediately send someone to ask Mr. Wei Ge."

After Zhang Anshi's kind words, Bingji and Liu De also tried to persuade Wei Xian, the gray-haired old man, to go back first.

"I'd like to express my condolences to you all. All I have left is these old bones..."

"If I can persuade the emperor to change his mind and offer a few words of advice to the great families in the world, it will be considered a worthy death." Wei Xian said while waving his hands repeatedly.

"Mr. Wei Ge, you are a great scholar. If there is really something wrong with you, how can we explain it to the Confucian scholars in Chang'an?" Bingji, who was covered in sweat, hurriedly persuaded again.

"Confucian scholars? Today's scholars are different from those in the past."

"Every one of the young Confucian scholars in Chang'an City wants to be a gentleman and a Confucian, and they even want to call me, an old man, a villain."

Wei Xian spoke desolately, but he never thought that in just a few months, most of the Confucian scholars would side with the emperor.

It's not right to say that I haven't thought of it. Wei Xian should have thought of it a long time ago.

The emperor established so many official schools and also implemented the imperial examination system, so that Confucian students from poor families could have food and money, and they could compete fairly to become officials in the future.

He always considers the poor Confucian students, and of course he will gain their support.

Even many gentry and Confucian scholars who had no hope of becoming official stood behind the emperor.

Not to mention that the emperor still has great talents. The content of the scriptures in the "Sacred Sutra of Hadith" is much better than the original private scriptures. Of course, it is very popular.

The prestige of old Confucian scholars like Wei Xian will only become lower and lower day by day, while the prestige of the Emperor will become higher and higher day by day.

"Zi Ru, do you think the county magistrate will come out to see us today?"

"The world is about to be in chaos now, but the county magistrate is living deep in the palace and has made it clear that he wants to avoid us and not listen to the advice of loyal ministers. This, this..."

"Isn't this the same as a foolish king? The Han Dynasty is in danger of subjugating the country!"

Liu De, who was kneeling at the edge, said sadly, his anxiety evident in his heart.

Among these people today, Liu De is certainly the most anxious.

The interests of the rest of the people have not been directly harmed, but Liu De is different.

The Lu family was his in-laws and had been confiscated.

Led by dignified cabinet bachelors and clan members, they can't even protect their own in-laws. Is it more than just a simple embarrassment?

Therefore, this matter of kneeling down and admonishing was probably planned by him.

Zhang Anshi did not answer Liu De's words, but silently raised his head and looked at Weiyang Palace.

For a moment, he felt extremely depressed, and he really couldn't answer this question.

He had no way of guessing what the emperor was going to do.

"Jiande, your majesty is wise, but his holy body is not in good condition, so he is unable to serve. As long as we kneel here, your majesty will always see it." Zhang Anshi sighed.

"The holy body is not good? I, Liu De, don't believe it! I think the county magistrate is confused!" Liu De suddenly raised his voice and said angrily.

"Zi Ru! This is Meng Lang's fault! How can you talk such nonsense? Be careful, walls have ears." Bingji said in a panic, pulling Liu De's sleeves.

"I'm Meng Lang? The county magistrate appoints a cruel official like Wei Xiang. He regards aristocratic families as his enemies and his ministers with meritorious deeds as his enemies. He criticizes and treats them harshly..."

"It is tantamount to destroying the Great Wall and digging its own foundation. Over time, it will definitely shake the Han Dynasty. There is no trace of a wise king..."

"Young gentlemen, let's talk about it and see if I understand it or not!"

Liu De's provocative words immediately attracted the support of the cunning people behind him, and there were waves of complaints from the crowd.

"The family members of the aristocratic family are also hard-working, how can they be taken away at will?"

"The system of relocating people to Sanfu should have been abolished long ago!"

"The county magistrate should resume the organizational training of governing by doing nothing!"

"The county magistrate is stupid, uses harsh officials, and trusts despicable people. He should punish the sycophants."

"If the Huo family was still here, why would the Han Dynasty be like this!"

……

Seeing the cunning people and courtiers speaking more and more excessively, cold sweat broke out on Zhang Anshi and Bingji's backs.

If these words reach the emperor's ears, blood will really flow like a river.

In the end, Zhang Anshi stood up with an angry look on his face and scolded them severely, "You can only give advice, not disobedience", and then he reluctantly silenced everyone.

So, with full of resentment, everyone knelt down in silence and continued to put pressure on the emperor in this unique way.

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(End of this chapter)