Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 348: Taking Advantage of Others’ Tricks and Being Tricked
When everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Chengji, Chen Chengji seemed quite relaxed.

He sat there with a calm expression on his face, as if this huge dispute had nothing to do with him.

"King An?"

Liu Hong asked again, and this time, Chen Chengji seemed to have just heard the shout. He raised his head with confusion on his face and looked at Liu Hong.

"His Majesty?"

He stood up as if he had suddenly realized something, and walked to the center of the hall, looking confused.

"I did not understand this matter, so I cannot judge."

Do not understand?

These people were arguing so happily just now, but the core figure at the center of the storm actually said that he didn't understand?

Liu Hong was also a little confused. What did Chen Chengji want to do?
What does he want to do?
Liu Hong said calmly, "What is it that King An is confused about? Everyone is here now, why don't you ask it yourself?"

Chen Chengji glanced at Liu Hong and smiled in his heart. The emperor was indeed not a stupid person. He could actually cooperate with him at this time.

He nodded immediately, turned his head, looked at Cao Cao who was kneeling beside him, and after just a glance, he didn't care.

He turned around and looked at the imperial censors who had sued Cao Cao and even wanted to kill him, and asked softly, "You just said that you want to kill Cao Cao. I wonder what law Cao Cao has violated?"

"I have thought about it, but I have not found any relevant article in Han law."

Chen Chengji smiled and said, "Perhaps it is because I don't know much about Han law. Since these people can say such things, their understanding of Han law must be better than mine."

"Why don't you guys explain it to me?"

The imperial censors stood there with unchanged expressions, but they were all sweating in their hearts.

This statement did not surprise the adults, as they had already come up with an answer based on this speculated question.

"King An, Cao Cao has disrespected the title of king, which is a crime of great disrespect."

"According to Han law, he should be executed."

This gave Chen Chengji a suitable way out. After all, the crime of disrespect is indeed punishable by death.

Even nine generations of the clan may be implicated.

One of the imperial censors spoke respectfully: "His Royal Highness King An came just yesterday, and Cao Cao did this."

"Isn't this a crime of blasphemy?"

Chen Chengji just looked at him in confusion: "The crime of disrespect seems to be just disrespect to His Majesty, right?"

"How disrespectful is it to me?"

"Which article in Han law stipulates that disrespecting a king will result in punishment?"

Chen Chengji raised his head, his expression dull: "I wonder if this colleague can tell me something?"

They handed over the ladder, but they didn't think that Chen Chengji would completely ignore the ladder and might even kick it over.

There is indeed no law in Han law that punishes those who are disrespectful to the titled king, but can Chen's titled kingship be the same as ordinary titled kingship?

That's certainly different.

but

No matter what, there is no such provision in Chinese law.

Then, there was silence in the court.

At this time, Chen Chengji turned his head and looked at Cao Cao standing there, and said in a very gentle voice, as if there was no aggression: "Captain Cao, which law did you follow in dealing with that Li family member?"

After being helped up by Chen Chengji, Cao Cao stood there, expressionless on the surface, but in fact, he was in a state of confusion.

Does King An really not want to pursue his issue?
To be honest, if Cao Cao were in King An's position, no matter whether this person had any intention of offending him or not, as long as he did such a thing and someone happened to hand him a knife, Cao Cao would definitely kill the person.

After all, it was not him who proposed the killing, nor was it him who did it.

If you kill, you will kill.

I would rather teach me to betray the world than teach the world to betray me.

So when he was on the street yesterday, Cao Cao felt a little discouraged, because he was speaking objectively.

He would kill such a "him", so he concluded that Chen Chengji would also kill such a him.

Cao Cao lowered his head and stated word for word the laws he was following.

Chen Chengji turned his head and asked the silent imperial censors beside him: "What do you think of what Commander Cao said?"

Several Imperial Censors lowered their heads and dared not speak. What could they say at this time?

But Chen Chengji spoke at this time, and he said something no one expected: "What Commander Cao said is indeed Han law."

"but"

Chen Chengji smiled slightly: "But it is no longer the Han law that is implemented now, right?"

"Captain Cao should be clear about this."

"According to the laws currently enforced by the Han Dynasty, that noble family kid should be beaten with a stick ten times and fined."

"This is the revision of the law made three years ago. Where was Commander Cao three years ago?"

"But he has already entered the court as an official?"

Cao Cao raised his head, his expression slightly disturbed. He faced Chen Chengji's eyes that seemed to see through everything. He could not explain himself, so he could only say, "Prime Minister Chen, three years ago I was selected as a filial and honest official, and then became a councilor, and then transferred to the Northern Commander of Chang'an."

Chen Chengji nodded: "If so, this is where Commander Cao made a mistake."

He turned around and looked at the emperor on the stage: "I ask the emperor to deal with it according to Han law."

After these words were spoken, the Weiyang Palace fell silent again.

Everyone was looking at their own people, trying to understand the meaning of Chen Chengji's words.

Yuan Feng raised his head slightly, glanced at Chen Chengji who was standing there with an upright posture, then glanced at Cao Cao behind Chen Chengji, and sighed slightly.

He closed his eyes, not expecting Chen Chengji to make such a choice.

In fact, when Cao Cao took advantage of the children of aristocratic families to punish them, it was not only the children of aristocratic families headed by the Yuan family, nor was it only the emperor sitting on the Diaoyutai, or even only the Ten Eunuchs, He Jin and many other dignitaries in the capital who took action.

Another person who took action was the little Chang'an commander - Cao Cao.

Yuan Feng discovered this when he came to the hall and saw Cao Cao's eyes. Cao Cao wanted to test the head of the Chen family, play a trick of self-torture, and then bring himself into the camp of Chen's disciples and former officials to complete the transformation of his identity.

Because this upright, seemingly firm, loyal and open-minded Chang'an commander had a huge flaw: he had a very poor background.

At least at this moment, this background seems very poor.

He came from a "eunuch family".

His grandfather was a eunuch in the palace, and his father was adopted by his grandfather. It was precisely because of the "connections" left by his grandfather that Cao Cao was selected as a filial and incorruptible official, and even served as a counselor in the year he was selected, and was later transferred to the Northern Inspector of Chang'an.

This is not a small location.

What is Chang'an City? Chang'an City is the capital of the Han Dynasty, under the feet of the emperor. The position of the Northern Commander here is not small. Although the rank of 500 stones is not much, it can attend the court and even has great "power".

Such "fat jobs" are often used to improve the qualifications of the children of these "aristocratic" families.

Cao Cao was eager to get rid of this position, and also eager to clear his background, so when he saw the young man from aristocratic family, he understood what purpose the person who played this game of chess wanted to achieve.

So he willingly entered the game as a chess piece, but Cao Cao was also a chess player.

He wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and use King An to cleanse the "stain of birth" on himself and then get rid of the position of Chang'an Commandery and join the Chen camp.

Yuan Feng glanced at Cao Cao quietly, and as expected, he saw a hint of "surprise" in Cao Cao's eyes.

He lowered his head and smiled faintly.

Still too young.

Want to use King An, but don’t tell him in advance?
What did Cao Cao think Chen Chengji was? A kind-hearted saint who could be used by anyone?
Can a saint really control a huge and number one family in the world under the current situation? Can he even let the emperor invite him to preside over the government under such circumstances?

Such a person is destined not to be a saint.

So, Chen Chengji naturally fought back.

He did indeed do what Cao Cao wanted, such as opposing the words of those imperial censors, but he did not take the opportunity to remove Cao Cao from the matter, but instead put him into a trap again.

Liu Hong sat on the high platform with a smile on his face.

His laughter broke the silence in the Weiyang Palace, and he asked, "Prime Minister Chen, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

Chen Chengji said seriously: "Captain Cao is in this position, but he does not understand the laws that he should know. Therefore, I think Captain Cao is not suitable to continue in this position."

"I request that Commander Cao be relieved of his post as Commander of Chang'an."

Without giving anyone time to object, Liu Hong just touched his chin and said directly: "Let's do as Prime Minister Chen said."

He looked at Cao Cao and asked, "Mr. Cao, are you satisfied with the treatment of Prime Minister Chen?"

Cao Cao took a step forward and lowered his head. His heart was still beating. He understood that this was a warning from Chen Chengji, so he immediately said in a hoarse voice: "Submit."

"I did something wrong in this matter."

Liu Hong nodded: "Then I will relieve you of your post as captain."

"I intend to set up eight great commanders to control the troops of Kyoto, and have me, the supreme general, lead them. But I haven't found any candidates yet. Are you willing to be one of them?"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he quickly said respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Liu Hong waved his hand and ignored Cao Cao. He just glanced at Chen Chengji again and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Chen, I heard that you brought Zhulou with you?"

"Zhu Lou is already twelve or thirteen years old. It's time for him to be tempered."

"I want to make him the lieutenant of the upper army, in charge of the entire army, and he will be under me. What do you think, Prime Minister Chen?"

Chen Chengji did not answer, but raised his head, looked at Liu Hong and said: "Your Majesty, I cannot make the decision on this matter."

He held his forehead with his hand, like a common father facing his naughty child: "This kid has never listened to me since he was young. It was even his own idea to come to Chang'an this time."

"Why don't you ask this boy in person, Your Majesty?"

Liu Hong was not polite and just looked at Zhang Rang, who naturally asked someone to summon him.

In the Weiyang Palace, Cao Cao, who had just escaped from danger and even received the emperor's protection, stood up in a cold sweat. He returned to his seat and looked at Chen Chengji who was chatting and laughing with the emperor in the Weiyang Palace. He had a deeper understanding of King An.

At this time, a low laugh was heard: "Meng De, will you take advantage of others again next time?"

Cao Cao knew who it was without even looking away. It was one of his close friends, and also the most prominent member of the noble family in the capital, Yuan Shao Yuan Benchu.

He also whispered: "You are just watching my fun."

"You, the Yuan family, have contributed a lot to this matter, right?"

Yuan Shao curled his lips and said helplessly: "What does it have to do with me? But I did hear that the one from Hongnong contributed the most to your plot this time. Who told you to punish his son two years ago?"

"That person is very spoiled."

The one from Hongnong?
Cao Cao's expression changed slightly. Hongnong Yang family?
He looked at Yuan Shao suspiciously: "Are you sure?"

"Really? It's not you?"

Yuan Shao stood there, with a calm expression: "It's really not true."

"We, the Yuan family, are still betting on the general and the Xiliang general, so we won't cause trouble for you at this time."

"After all, there is no hatred between the Yuan family and the Chen family."

He chuckled and said, "Have you forgotten? The current head of the Yang family once studied under His Royal Highness King An when he was young, but His Royal Highness King An directly threw his articles away, saying that reading such things was simply dirtying his eyes."

"If it weren't for the successive generations of the Yang family stepping forward to suppress this matter, there might not be this Sikong today."

Only then did Cao Cao remember this old incident.

This matter seemed to be directed against Cao Cao, but in fact it was directed against His Royal Highness King An. Therefore, the person who did this should have a grudge against the Chen family, or at least against His Royal Highness King An.

In this way, all the things that were previously incomprehensible have become clear.

Just as the two were whispering, footsteps were heard in the distance, and then the eunuch called out from outside the Weiyang Palace: "The prince of Anguo has arrived--"

Chen Zhulou walked into the hall very calmly, and then bowed.

"I, Chen Zhulou, greet your majesty."

Liu Hong waved his hand to let Chen Zhulou stand up, then looked at Chen Zhulou and asked him the same question he had asked Chen Chengji just now, and told him the whole story, and finally looked at Chen Zhulou and asked: "Are you willing?"

A military lieutenant?

Chen Zhulou understood the meaning of this immediately and replied, "Your Majesty, I am willing to do so."

(End of this chapter)