Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 658 Forced into the palace!

"What to do, what to do?"

Emperor Li Lin was like an ant on hot pot, pacing around in the Purple Palace. When the palace was first built, Fang Chongyong asked Li Lin whether he wanted to change the name of the place where he handled daily government affairs (punching in at work).

For example, "Qianqing Palace" and "Yangxin Palace".

But what Li Lin wanted was to restore the glory of the Tang Dynasty and the power of the Li family, so he flatly refused.

How can the ancestral system be changed so easily?

So although the Purple Palace was moved to a new location, it was still called that name. However, the Purple Palace did not bring good luck to Li Lin.

Early this morning, Gao Shang, who should have been "executed", was sent back by the court.

Things have changed!

This feeling of being "out of control" made Li Lin anxious.

It’s not that Gao Shang shouldn’t have come back, but he shouldn’t have come back before he, the emperor, took any action!
"Tell me! Why were you sent back? Why?
Fang Qing came back yesterday, did he tell you something? "

Li Lin's eyes were red. He held Gao Shang's shoulders with both hands and kept shaking his body.

"Fang Qing wants to depose the emperor and establish the Prince of Chenliu, so he sent the slave back."

Gao Shang said expressionlessly, very calmly.

"It's over, it's over, everything is over! What should I do?"

Li Lin kept retreating and finally fell onto the dragon throne.

Suddenly, he thought of a crucial thing. Li Lin raised his head, looked at Gao Shang and asked, "How do you know that Fang Qing wants to depose me?"

"Wei Zichun was imprisoned. When he was in the Dali Temple Prison, I happened to come out and saw him.

Hence this judgment.”

Gao Shang said with a sigh.

"Why?"

Li Lin's brain was about to explode. He had no idea what Wei Zichun's imprisonment had to do with him.

"The assassination was reported by Wei Zichun.

Fang Qing put Wei Zichun in jail because he falsely accused His Majesty, which shows that he does not intend to pursue the matter of assassinating Prince Chenliu.

Your Majesty need not worry about this."

"So this is ah."

Li Lin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky to have survived the disaster.

"Your Majesty, do you really think you have dodged a disaster?"

Gao Shang asked back with a helpless expression.

"Is not it?"

Li Lin was a little confused and didn't think the situation was getting serious at all.

“Your Majesty ordered an assassin to kill Prince Chenliu. Fang Qing will not pursue the matter on the surface, but he can make everyone understand that it was Your Majesty who did it.

Fang Qing didn't pursue the matter because he was considering the overall situation.

This is done for the world to see, and it does not mean that Your Majesty is safe.

Fang Qing has many reasons to depose the emperor, there is no need to dwell on the assassination."

Gao Shang said with great sorrow.

"Then, how should I deal with it?"

Li Lin was so frightened that his face turned pale and his heart was in turmoil.

"I don't know either. I can only take it one step at a time."

Gao Shang shook his head and didn't respond.

Just as Li Lin was sighing, a eunuch came in hurriedly, handed Li Lin an official document from Kaifeng, and then stepped aside.

"Tomorrow, the court officials will attend the court meeting in the palace?"

Unfolding the scroll of official documents, Li Lin read through it quickly, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

I actually came here for a meeting!
But it's normal to think about it, because in Chang'an, the court held court meetings in the Taiji Hall in the imperial city! Later it was changed to the Zichen Hall.

Although tomorrow is the first time that a court meeting will be held in the imperial palace in Bianzhou, there is nothing wrong with the procedure.

"Fang Qing returned to Kaifeng City yesterday. It's not surprising that he will attend the court tomorrow."

Gao Shang nodded slightly and said.

"Could it be that Fang Qing wanted to cause trouble at the court meeting and depose me on the grounds of assassinating a member of the royal family?"

Li Lin approached Gao Shang and asked in a low voice.

This idiot is really unique!

Gao Shang cursed inwardly.

“Your Majesty, if Fang Qing wanted to continue pursuing this matter, he would not have put the informant Wei Zichun in jail.

The reason for Wei Zichun's conviction would never be snitching, but he was convicted because Fang Qing did not want the world to think that he was taking advantage of the situation.

If he were to depose His Majesty now, how would he stop the people from speaking out against him?"

Gao Shang explained patiently.

Isn't this obvious? Fang Qing sent him back to the palace and arrested the informer. It was obvious that he didn't want outsiders to think that Fang Qing himself planned the assassination and put the blame on Li Lin.

It's obvious that he's going to cause trouble so soon.

"That's fine, that's fine."

Li Lin breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still frightened.

The assassination of Li Qi was a momentary impulse on his part. Thinking back on it now, he truly feels that impulse is the devil.

In fact, the weaker a person is, the more he likes to take shortcuts, because he cannot win through fair competition.

Li Lin fantasized, I am killing Li Qi, not you, the great commander, so it should be okay.

Unexpectedly, the assassination failed because of Wei Zichun's betrayal, and Gao Shang was put in jail.

Li Lin's impulse seems unexpected, but it is actually reasonable.

"Your Majesty, the state is in a difficult situation. There are powerful enemies outside and powerful officials inside. Please do not give up on yourself."

Gao Shang comforted Li Lin.

"I understand."

Li Lin nodded and responded with something, but it was unclear whether he heard it or not.

"I was in a bad mood a few days ago and scolded you a few times. You won't blame me, right?"

Li Lin looked at Gao Shang and asked thoughtfully.

"Your Majesty, it is my duty to serve you."

Gao Shang answered cautiously, his heart in his throat.

"Yes, I understand."

Li Lin tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his index finger and asked casually, "If Fang Qing continues to recover lost territory, it seems that he will have a chance to unify the country. But how can I get him to hand over his military power at that time?"

The impact of this military expedition to Huainan and western Zhejiang was very great, because these two places were not only rich, but also fertile land for grain production, and should not be underestimated.

When his fate was in jeopardy, Li Lin didn’t really care who had the final say in Bianzhou. What he feared more was someone breaking into his bedroom and chopping off his head.

But now the possibility of being defeated is very small, and the Bianzhou regime even shows signs of rising.

Therefore, whether or not one can hold power and who has the final say has become an even more critical issue.

If not for this, Fang Qing would not have been in such a hurry to rush back from Yangzhou in Huainan.

In fact, part of the rebellion suppression was not yet completed. In Huaixi, there were bandit troops roaming around, and the situation was not stable.

"Your Majesty, by then, I'm afraid we will have to imitate the story of Xuanwu Gate."

Gao Shang said in a low voice.

"Is there really a chance? Fang Qing has a lot of followers! Isn't this too risky?"

Li Lin sighed and shook his head. He dared not even think about such things.

"Who knows? Yuan Ziyou can also kill Erzhu Rong. Who dares to say that Fang Qing is not the next Erzhu Rong?"

Gao Shang continued to bewitch.

"Who is Erzhu Rong?"

Li Lin asked back.

He couldn't remember who this person was, he just felt that he sounded familiar, as if he had heard him somewhere before.

Gao Shang was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. Seeing that Li Lin really didn't know and was not pretending to be confused, he explained: "A person similar to Dong Zhuo."

Li Lin suddenly understood.

……

New palace, old court meetings, same old stuff, new name.

Li Lin sat listlessly on the dragon throne in the Purple Palace, his mind wandering as he listened to Fang Qing describing the military situation of the bandit suppression campaign in western Zhejiang.

So-and-so made great military achievements.

Who is brave in battle? What rewards will the court give? How many officials will be assigned to the vacant local positions and how will they be assigned?

Whoever is promoted or dismissed must come from western Zhejiang to the Ministry of Personnel in Bianzhou to "report for duty" and be assessed.

How much grain and fodder should be transported from Bianzhou to Yangzhou? How much money is needed to set up official warehouses in each state to store grain? And so on.

How to arrange next year's spring plowing, are the farm tools and seeds ready, and how to disburse loans to farmers.

There seems to be endless things to say and endless topics to discuss.

After Fang Chongyong finished speaking, Liu Yan continued speaking. After Liu Yan finished speaking, Yan Zhuang continued speaking. After Yan Zhuang finished speaking, Li Quan continued speaking.

Li Lin looked at the ministers in front of him who were entering and exiting the line like a revolving lantern, and his heart was calm.

Even wanted to get up and sing and dance.

So fucking boring!

Li Lin was just a mascot, sitting on the dragon throne like a fool. The affairs of the palace had nothing to do with him.

The ministers came out one after another to ask for instructions, and all Li Lin had to say were "OK", "I understand", "OK" and so on.

Everything is just a formality, a going through the motions.

Of course, if Li Lin were asked to handle these matters, he would have no way to do it.

Does he know what’s going on on the front line?
he does not know.

What are the customs of the people in Huainan and western Zhejiang like?
He didn't know either.

Li Lin didn't even know how much an egg cost.

There was nothing he could do.

Of course, the one who really decides what should and should not be done is the Kaifeng government office, which is Fang Qing’s palace.

It has nothing to do with Li Lin.

Suddenly, the "Dengwen Drum" outside the palace was struck!

Boom!Boom!Boom!
The knocking sound was very dull, as if it was knocking on everyone's heart.

Why would someone beat the drum to request submission when all the ministers were in court?
Although this system existed during the time of King Ji, it was just a decoration. Anyone who beat the drum for reporting should be prepared to be beaten to death.

Because of this system, the things you ask for injustice cannot be "untrue", otherwise it will be treated as "false accusation".

Once a matter has been concluded, if you want to reverse it, you need to "overcorrect", so the price to pay is also very high.

Usually the person beating the drum is beaten to death.

The system that the emperor must receive complaints from people who beat the drum to report grievances was actually set by Fang Qing. Of course, Li Lin felt that Fang Qing was using this system to find fault with him! He had always hated it!
"My dear ministers, what is going on?"

Li Lin looked surprised and had a bad feeling in his heart.

"Your Majesty, you are the master of the imperial palace, and the drum is beaten for your hearing."

Fang Zhongyong stepped forward, saluted Li Lin and said.

"Your Majesty, why not let the man who beat the drum come in and see what grievances he has."

Gao Shang whispered a suggestion into Li Lin's ear.

That's fine too.

Li Lin thought to himself, and then shouted loudly:
"Those who have come to complain enter the palace!"

"Those who have come to complain enter the palace!"

"Those who have come to complain enter the palace!"

The voices spread out one after another, spreading far away, with unquestionable majesty and solemnity.

It finally looks a bit like an imperial court!

Li Lin sat up straight, looking expectant.

Soon, a young man in white cloth was brought in by two eunuchs. Li Lin did not recognize him and was not familiar with him, so he confirmed that it was the first time they met.

"Who are you and why are you complaining?"

Li Lin asked with a smile.

"I am Yuan Zai, a Jinshi in the imperial examination."

Yuan Zai knelt down and held a roll of paper above his head with both hands.

Then he stopped talking.

"Gao Shang, please read it."

Li Lin pointed at the paper roll Yuan was holding and said, this should be the so-called crime.

Gao Shang walked forward, unfolded the paper, took a closer look, and looked embarrassed, not knowing what to say.

"Read it, why don't you read it?"

Li Lin asked with some dissatisfaction.

"Forget it, I will read it for you."

Fang Zhongyong took the petition from Gao Shang and read:
"We, the common people Yuan Zai, and 153 other candidates for the imperial examination, have jointly submitted a petition requesting that the emperor abdicate and the crown prince succeed him.

The emperor today is unjust and has twenty-seven crimes:
Living a lavish life and not caring about people's livelihood is the first sin;

Being licentious and adulterous, and indulging in women, this is the second sin;
Not knowing how to farm and sericulture, not knowing the five grains, this is the third sin;

Being ignorant of military affairs, being idle in civil affairs and frivolous in military affairs, this is the fourth sin;
Being unable to bear children and having few offspring is the fifth sin;
Extorting money and squandering money are the sixth sins.
……

Assassinating a brother using despicable means is the twenty-seventh crime.

I, the common people, request that the emperor abdicate immediately and not let the land of China sink and the people fall into misery.

I have offended the imperial court, and I am willing to die for my country!"

After Fang Zhongyong finished reading, he saw Yuan Zai suddenly stand up and crash into the pillar in the Purple Palace. Fortunately, he was caught by someone with quick eyes and hands, so he was not killed.

But even so, Yuan Zai fell into a coma, his head was broken and he was bleeding a lot. It was unknown whether he could be saved.

The two medical officers quickly asked someone to carry Yuan Zai out.

At this moment, Li Lin, who was sitting on the dragon throne, felt his ears buzzing!

Rebellion! Rebellion! What is Fang Qing going to do?
He was so angry that he was shaking all over, his lips opened and closed, and he couldn't utter a word!
The entire court fell into an awkward silence. No one dared to say anything until Fang Zhongyong spoke.

Marshal Fang's attitude is indeed somewhat ambiguous.

Although he did not directly say depose the emperor, he did not stop when reading the "charges"?

The successful candidates in the imperial examination jointly wrote a petition to the emperor, asking him to abdicate.

Do you think this is just a joke?
No, no, no, this is actually forcing the emperor to abdicate!
"Your Majesty is in the palace, so you should listen to the voices of the common people."

Fang Chongyong said calmly, rolled up the "charge" and handed it to Gao Shang who was standing beside him.

"I, I, understand."

Li Lin stammered and couldn't even speak clearly.

"However, this so-called indictment is groundless and unfounded. It is just a bunch of ignorant people who believed what they heard and were blinded by it.

I suggest that these one hundred or so Jinshi be driven away from Bianzhou and sent to Huainan and western Zhejiang to serve as officials so that they can experience the sufferings of the people.

It will also save these people from gathering together and making noise around the court all day long. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Fang Chongyong asked Li Lin with his hands crossed.

The Jinshi scholars jointly wrote a letter to the emperor to slap his face and force him to abdicate and let others take over. Surprisingly, the punishment was just to be "expelled from the capital" and sent to serve as officials in other places.

Are you sure this is really a punishment? It makes one wonder.

"So good, so good."

Li Lin nodded guiltily.

He originally wanted to put all the scholars who jointly submitted a petition to force him to abdicate into prison, but he didn't expect Fang Qing to have blocked the loophole in advance.

"If there is something going on, go ahead and leave if there is nothing going on!"

Gao Shang shouted at the top of his voice.

Fang Chongyong led the important ministers out one after another. After everyone had left, Li Lin collapsed on the dragon throne, sweating and panting with fear.

It felt like walking through the gates of hell! He looked extremely miserable.

"You're right, it's getting more and more dangerous. Fang Qing wants to destroy me!"

Li Lin said while panting, still in shock.

Just now, it was just a little bit, perhaps just a "one thought difference" of Fang Qing, and he, the emperor, would be deposed.

Then, Crown Prince Li Wei will ascend the throne legitimately. There will be no obstacles and no one will stand on his side.

why?

Because these Jinshi did not clamor for Li Lin to abdicate and let Fang Qing succeed him.

The crown prince succeeded to the throne legitimately, so what's wrong with that?

Li Lin discovered that even if he died immediately, it would not cause any trouble.

"What should I do?"

Li Lin looked at Gao Shang and asked in a deep voice.

(End of this chapter)