Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 507 Liu Xie: My rules are the rules
While Jia Xu ordered a thorough investigation into the rumors, the Cui Mansion on the other side was also in an uproar.

"Who among you did this?"

Cui Yan was furious at this time, and questioned all the family heads present in anger, shaking with anger all over.

"The drought was caused by the emperor's disregard for Confucianism and violation of the laws of his ancestors. How can such a rumor be allowed to spread?"

"To put it mildly, this is attacking the emperor and destroying his reputation; to put it harshly, this is plotting evil and deliberately treason!"

"You don't want to live, but I still want to live!"

Cui Yan slammed the table and cursed, his handsome face turning red with anger.

The reason why he was so angry was all because of the rumors that had been circulating recently.

Rumor has it that this drought, which has not happened for decades, was caused by the emperor's disregard for Confucianism. When he heard this rumor, he felt like the sky was falling.

Two months ago, the emperor personally issued an edict, asking the court to make plans to fight drought and prepare for disasters. It is unknown how much money was spent on this.

Two months later, the drought arrived as expected, and the banks of the Yellow River were left barren for thousands of miles. Countless people survived because the court had prepared for the disaster in advance.

Even he had to admire the emperor's foresight and courage.

However, at this time someone actually jumped out to spread this rumor, which is simply throwing dirty water on the emperor!
What's the difference between this behavior and seeking death? !

Today, the emperor is not a kind-hearted person. Once he starts to investigate and settle the matter, there will surely be rivers of blood!
After hearing Cui Yan's words, Dou Fu frowned and said coldly: "Who spread the rumor? Don't slander me here!"

"Besides, what does it matter if this rumor spreads? The debate is about to take place, and this rumor will just create conditions for us to win the debate!"

"It's obviously a good thing, why are you so angry?"

Cui Yan was so angry that he laughed when he heard this, and retorted: "Good news? I think it's more like a funeral!"

"With such rumors spreading at the critical moment of the debate, who do you think His Majesty will suspect?"

"Do you think you can make His Majesty compromise just by relying on rumors?"

"I tell you, if we use this method, His Majesty will never give up even if we win the debate!"

The emperor was willing to hold a debate for public debate, which gave them a fair chance to compete and see who was more capable.

But they resorted to such despicable means as spreading rumors to tarnish the emperor's reputation. Are they afraid that the emperor would not have the heart to take action against them?
Cui Yan had been contacting great scholars for the past two months in preparation for winning the debate, but he never expected such a thing to happen!
Then what was the point of his hard work over the past two months?
Thinking of this, Cui Yan became even more angry. He stood up and said, "Who on earth did this? Do you dare not admit it?!"

The family heads all looked at each other, and no one spoke.

Finally, it was Dong Zhong who spoke up: "Master Cui, calm down. This matter is too strange. It may not be done by those present here."

"The imperial court prepared for disasters in advance and asked the General Administration of Taxation to regulate prices. As a result, many grain merchants from all over the country were investigated and punished. They are full of resentment towards Your Majesty."

"Perhaps this was done by those grain merchants, with the purpose of tarnishing your Majesty's reputation as revenge."

Dong Zhong is mature and prudent, and his thoughts are more far-reaching.

This rumor was too bizarre.

There was an eerie feeling from beginning to end.

He always felt that there was something unusual behind this matter.

The other family heads also spoke up, stating that they did not spread these rumors and that it had nothing to do with them.

After hearing this, Cui Yan's expression became slightly ferocious and twisted, and he said hatefully, "If I knew who spread these rumors, I would twist his head off!"

The other family heads could also understand Cui Yan's reaction.

After all, he had put in a lot of effort for this debate, making many contacts and inviting famous scholars from all over the country to Chang'an to participate.

Shen Rong said, "Don't worry about who started the rumor. There is no other way now. Let's focus on the debate."

"No matter what, let's win the debate first."

Since things have already happened, getting angry will not help. It is better to focus all your energy on the matter at hand.

In another month, the debate will be held.

Cui Yan took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry about this matter. In addition to my master, I have also invited Hua Xin, Wang Lang, Bing Yuan and other famous scholars who are proficient in classics and debate to participate in this debate."

"With them here, this debate will be foolproof."

Ju Zong was pleasantly surprised when he heard this, and then asked, "What about the Imperial College? Who did they invite to participate in the debate? Is Kong Rong included?"

Hua Xin, Wang Lang and Bing Yuan were all famous figures of the time.

With them around, the chances of winning the debate are undoubtedly great.

I just don’t know who the court has chosen to participate in the debate.

Cui Yan said: "In addition to Guo Fengxiao, there are Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu."

"As a Confucian master, Kong Beihai will not help the Imperial College in the debate, but he has never stood on our side either."

When they heard the lineup from the Imperial College, everyone was shocked.

Dong Zhong frowned and asked, "Zhuge Kongming is also participating in the debate? Then who are Xu Shu and Pang Tong?"

He knew Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia, but he had never heard of the latter two.

Chen Lin said, "I know these two people. They are both disciples of the famous scholar Shui Jing in Jingzhou, and they are from the same school as Zhuge Liang."

"They were all counselors under the King of Zhongshan before, and were later recommended to Your Majesty by the King of Zhongshan."

After hearing the two's origins, everyone suddenly understood.

At the same time, I also feel more and more stressed.

There is no need to say much about the talents of Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang, and as Xu Shu and Pang Tong were from the same school as Zhuge Liang, they must not be much worse.

"Master Cui, do you think you can win this debate?"

Dong Zhong asked Cui Yan, feeling a little uneasy.

Cui Yan frowned and said with some dissatisfaction: "My master is old and it is not easy for him to come from afar to participate in the debate. How can I, as his disciple, ask such a question?"

"Besides, you guys think too highly of Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia. They are indeed talented, but they are young after all. How can they compare to these famous scholars I invited?"

They had the advantage in this debate because Confucianism had many supporters and its ideas had long been deeply rooted in people's minds.

In addition, he had invited many famous scholars of the time, whose lineup was much more luxurious than that of the Imperial College, so there was no possibility of losing.

"I will naturally arrange these. Don't be idle during this period of time. Send someone to find out where the rumor came from."

"We must not allow these rumors to continue to spread!"

Cui Yan added that the rumors have become big enough now, and if they continue like this, there is no telling how they will end.

The other family heads also understood the pros and cons and nodded.

……

Shanglin Garden, a suburb of Chang'an.

Shanglinyuan was the royal hunting ground, where many animals were raised for the king to hunt and play in his spare time.

After all, there was no entertainment or sports in ancient times. Cuju was not suitable for the nobility, and hunting with a bow was more in line with the royal style. Today, the weather was sunny, and Liu Xie came to Shanglin Garden to hunt on a whim, and also brought Jia Xu and Guo Jia with him.

"call out--!"

Along with a sharp sound of breaking wind, a sharp arrow shot out and directly pierced the head of a rabbit that was eating grass under a tree, nailing it to the trunk.

The white feathers at the tail of the arrow were still trembling.

In the distance, Liu Xie, dressed in hunting clothes, put down the bow in his hand, while Jia Xu beside him clapped his hands in praise.

"I didn't expect your majesty's archery skills to be so superb."

Jia Xu took a look at the rabbit that was killed by one blow, and was really surprised, and couldn't help but say.

He always thought that the emperor had no military power.

But now that doesn't seem to be the case.

Liu Xie smiled faintly and said, "I am always busy. Do you think I am as powerless as you and Feng Xiao?"

The Han Dynasty valued martial arts, and the martial spirit was strong from top to bottom.

Liu Xie did not have much military power before, but later he went on more expeditions and practiced riding and archery in his spare time. After being influenced by them for a long time, he also developed superb archery skills.

Of course, it was more for physical exercise. Most of the emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty died young, and he didn't want to follow in their footsteps.

"Then your majesty underestimates me.

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu just smiled, then grabbed the bow and arrow on the side of the horse's back, and his whole demeanor changed completely.

He bent his bow like a full moon and shot out an arrow!
Before Liu Xie could see clearly what was happening, the guards had already gone and retrieved the prey that Jia Xu had shot.

Jia Xu just shot a roe deer to death with one arrow!
This accuracy and strength are much higher than Liu Xie's, which is enough to prove that Jia Xu's martial arts skills are actually not low.

You have to know that low martial arts skills are only relative. Jia Xu is naturally not comparable to those generals, but his own martial arts are actually quite good.

You have to know that in the army, even strategists sometimes need to lead troops to fight, and it would be impossible to do so without some martial arts skills.

Liu Xie was slapped in the face just after he finished speaking. He was a little embarrassed and silently put down the bow and arrow in his hand. Then he changed the subject and asked, "Have you found any clues about the rumors recently?"

When this matter was mentioned, Jia Xu's expression froze slightly, and he asked with a evasive look: "Why did your Majesty suddenly ask about this?"

The source of the rumor has actually been found out.

But he didn't dare to say it.

Liu Xie looked at Jia Xu with a gloomy look and said, "If I have found out, I have found out. I didn't intend to keep it secret from you."

"But you still have to cooperate and pretend to do it."

With the ability of the Embroidered Uniform Envoy, it is not surprising that he found the source of the rumor, and he himself did not intend to conceal it for too long.

The reason why he asked Gao Lan to do this without telling Jia Xu and Guo Jia was not because he did not trust them, but to make this matter seem more real.

Jia Xu said yes respectfully, and then Guo Jia continued, "Your Majesty, the major families have also been suppressing the spread of rumors in recent days. It seems that they have also realized it."

"But...is this really a good idea? Will it cause a backlash?"

The emperor's actions are a false accusation.

Of course he saw what the purpose was.

Regardless of whether the debate is won or lost, the emperor will be able to take the initiative, but this method is a bit shameless.

"So what if they guessed that I did it?"

Liu Xie said lightly, he looked at a rabbit leisurely eating grass in the woods not far away, then slowly raised the bow and arrow in his hand.

"I just want to tell them clearly that I can take action against them at any time. I make the rules."

"My rules are the rules."

Bounce? He wished they would bounce back!
Do you really think he's just raising an army for free?
Liu Xie bent his bow and stared at the rabbit steadily. Finally, he suddenly loosened his fingers and the sharp arrow flew out, but the rabbit dodged it swiftly.

Then he jumped directly into the woods and disappeared.

The prey escaped, but Liu Xie was not angry. He continued, "Since ancient times, reforms and changes have always been accompanied by bloodshed."

"If the Han Dynasty wants to be strong, it needs reform. Whoever dares to stand in the way will be my enemy."

"Since they are enemies, then any means are acceptable."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu and Guo Jia didn't know how to respond. They looked at each other, exchanged glances, and saw awe in each other's eyes.

The emperor's methods are becoming more and more overbearing. Even they are frightened. The saying "serving the emperor is like serving a tiger" is really true.

But at the same time, only such an emperor can truly make the Han Dynasty prosperous!

The two continued to accompany Liu Xie on hunting trips in the hunting grounds.

At this time, a wild boar attracted Liu Xie's attention. Liu Xie bent his bow and shot an arrow, which instantly hit the body of the huge wild boar!

"hold head high--!"

The wild boar howled miserably. Although it was shot, it did not fall down.

You should know that the wild boar is one of the three overlords in the mountains. It not only has thick skin and flesh, but also has great strength. With its sharp fangs, even a tiger does not dare to confront it head-on.

Although Liu Xie had some martial arts skills, it was still unrealistic for him to kill a wild boar with one arrow.

After being hit by Liu Xie's arrow, the wild boar howled and jumped several times on the spot, then looked over.

“Hmph——!”

The wild boar was extremely vengeful and aggressive. After discovering Liu Xie and the others, it immediately changed direction and rushed over!

"Protect Your Majesty!"

The guards around were startled for a moment, then drew out the swords from their waists without hesitation, with tense expressions, and protected Liu Xie behind them.

The wild boar is extremely powerful and has rough skin and thick flesh. Even if they all attack together, they may not be able to kill it immediately. And if it is gored by it, it will be disemboweled!

But the emperor is behind them, they can't retreat no matter what!

"You're just a beast, how dare you be so rampant?"

Seeing this, Lu Bu, who was bored not far away, narrowed his eyes slightly, grabbed the bow and arrow on the horse's back, and shot an arrow at the wild boar!
In just a blink of an eye, the aggressive wild boar was shot in the head. However, unlike Liu Xie's arrow, Lu Bu's arrow hit the wild boar's forehead directly, and half of the arrow was embedded in it!
The skull is the hardest part of a wild boar, but Lu Bu shot an arrow into it, which shows how powerful his arrow was!

The brain was destroyed, and the wild boar immediately lost its balance. It fell to the ground before taking two steps. Blood oozed from its mouth and nose, its hooves twitched slightly, and its life was cut off.

"Mr. Wen is a great archer!"

Liu Xie applauded and cheered for Lu Bu with a smile on his face, and he was not at all flustered from beginning to end.

Lu Bu laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It's just a wild boar. What's the big deal?"

Liu Xie also smiled and said, yes, it’s just a wild boar and some noble families, what does it matter?
"Let's go back to the palace."

(End of this chapter)