Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 806 Extra 3: The Tiger Dies but Still Has Its Might (3)

In the Ming Dynasty founded by Fang Zhongyong, there were no "capitalists" or "street lamps" at the beginning. But since when, "capitalists hang street lamps" has become a classic catchphrase among the people, usually used to threaten people they dislike.

It was not until the city of Bianliang installed street lights and began calling those wealthy people "capitalists" that people understood what this sentence meant.

On this chaotic night, this sentence seemed to carry some kind of magic, wandering in the "rich area" of Bianliang City.

The gate of the He family's luxurious mansion has been tightly surrounded by hired workers, with torches flickering and shadows of people swaying.

"Hang He Qianwan on the street lamp!"

Someone in the crowd shouted something, which instantly ignited the emotions of the hired workers.

Once upon a time, when I was spinning in a workshop, my finger was pinched and cut off by the shuttle. The rich businessmen were indifferent to it. They just paid me one month's wages and drove me out of the workshop.

In the past, wealthy businessmen would delay monthly wages for various reasons, or even refuse to pay them at all, leaving the entire family starving and cold, and living even worse than slaves.

In the past, a relative fell ill due to overwork. When he could no longer work, he could only groan in pain on his bed at home and then slowly die.

At this moment, all of this is He Qianwan's fault, which led to the tragedy.

The emperor was no longer around, and the court was no longer able to uphold justice, so anger was ignited in the hearts of the people.

If you can’t deal with the government, can’t you deal with a few wealthy merchants?
It is true that the treatment of employees in the He family's workshop was not the worst in Bianzhou, but he was definitely the richest one.

At this moment, the people surrounding He's mansion no longer cared whether the statement "He has thousands of street lamps" was reasonable or not, they just wanted to vent!
Bang!

With a loud bang, the gate of the He Mansion's villa was knocked open. No one knew what method these people used to knock open the gate of the He Mansion's villa that was comparable to a city gate!

The crowd immediately poured in like a tide.

"Hang up the streetlights!"

"Hang up the streetlights!"

"Hang up the streetlights!"

The hired workers mechanically shouted devilish slogans while heading towards the inner courtyard of the He Mansion.

Today, they did not come to He's house to rob money, they just wanted He Qianwan to die!

……

The imperial council hall in Bianliang City is also brightly lit tonight.

However, compared with the laxity in the outer city, the guards in the imperial city are extremely strict, and all the imperial guards who are on leave will be on duty tonight.

In the Council Hall, Prime Minister Xiao Fu, Guan Bo and Wu Yuanheng are on duty today.

The Ming Dynasty established by Fang Qing adopted the "group prime minister system". The maximum number of prime ministers was nine, and the minimum was five. Every day, at least two different prime ministers took turns to be on duty in the Council of State.

This system worked very well when Fang Qing was in office. When the prime ministers discussed a policy, Fang Qing would make the final decision. Or Fang Qing would give a policy direction and the prime ministers would formulate the details, so that the powers were checked and balanced.

With Fang Qing suppressing them, no one can stand out. Just mind your own business.

But Fang Xiaoru did not have the ability to control so many prime ministers. After he ascended the throne, the prime ministers in the court quickly split into factions and started to fight and sabotage each other.

Xiao Fu and Guan Bo were both candidates for the imperial examination in the same session and had a close personal relationship with each other, whereas Wu Yuanheng was the new prime minister who had no friendship with them.

It was late at night, Xiao Fu and Guan Bo had finished their work and were playing Go. Wu Yuanheng was waiting anxiously, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say anything.

At this time, a clerk came in hurriedly and reported to the three prime ministers: "My lords, the mob has besieged He Qianwan's house. He Qianwan has sent people to the palace to ask for help. The people are outside the government office. How should we respond?"

He Qianwan is not an ordinary person, his daughter is a royal concubine! Without this relationship, the He family's business would not be so big.

"Got it. Tell him to guard the residential compound well. The imperial guards will be here soon."

Xiao Fu replied calmly. The clerk took the order and left.

After he left, Wu Yuanheng asked anxiously, "There is chaos in Bianliang City tonight, how can you two gentlemen not be anxious?"

"Why rush? The court has already come up with a solution."

Guan Bo glanced at Wu Yuanheng and answered impatiently.

"Countermeasures? What countermeasures?"

Wu Yuanheng was confused. As the prime minister, he didn't know what countermeasures the court had. The situation in Bianzhou was very strange recently. A high-ranking official was assassinated, and there was a party struggle in the court. The case has not been solved yet.

A large number of small workshops closed down, employees lost their jobs, and public security deteriorated sharply. Tonight, rioters surrounded the mansion of a wealthy businessman, how come they acted as if nothing had happened?
"Abandoned son!"

Xiao Fu made a move on the chessboard, looked at the two people beside him, and continued: "It will benefit everyone."

Abandoned son!

Wu Yuanheng was horrified. He was not stupid. If he were stupid, he would not have been able to sit in the position of prime minister.

Imperial Concubine... why would you... abandon your child!
He was so scared that his hands and feet were cold, but he didn't know what to say.

“The government has left us a huge stall, like a hanging lake above our heads.

Let the people of Bianliang return to their homes, the water will flow away, and the trouble will be solved. "

Xiao Fu sighed and continued, "The people are resentful. If we don't let them settle accounts with He Qianwan, should we let them come to the Bianliang Palace and settle accounts with the emperor? When He Qianwan dies and the imperial concubine is deposed, we will come out and confiscate the He family's property and use it where it should be used. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Bo and Wu Yuanheng both remained silent.

This may be a bit unethical, but it is also a way to solve the problem.

Dealing with He Qianwan and attributing the current hardships to those unscrupulous wealthy businessmen, so that the people can vent their anger, is the least costly way to deal with the situation.

Although it is only a temporary solution and not a permanent cure.

"If the government were here, there would be no response like this."

After a long time, Wu Yuanheng sighed.

Xiao Fu glanced at him and said sarcastically, "Prime Minister Wu also said that the emperor is no longer with us. Now that he is gone, will all the people in the world go to hell with him and live a miserable life?"

"Humph! Summer insects cannot talk about ice!"

Wu Yuanheng snorted coldly and was about to leave, but Guan Bo raised his hand to stop him.

"Prime Minister Wu, you have to think clearly. You are on duty in the Council Hall. The three of us can testify against each other. There are also countless clerks in the hall, and everyone is watching.

If you leave the council hall now, the emperor will hold you accountable and ask you what you did tonight, but you won't be able to explain clearly.

If someone falsely accuses you of being the one behind all these rioters tonight, you won't be able to defend yourself, right?"

Wu Yuanheng had just stood up, but sat down again dejectedly after hearing these words.

After all, the three of them were just the three prime ministers on duty tonight. Even without the three of them, there would still be plenty of things to happen tonight.

"The official once told you a story about a group of people who were out for a walk and encountered a bear in the woods. They didn't need to run faster than the bear, they just had to run faster than their companions.

Xiao deeply agrees with this. "

Xiao Fu smiled at Wu Yuanheng and made another move.

(End of this chapter)