Han: The witchcraft disaster begins, I fight against Emperor Wu of Han

Chapter 56 Shi De's Advice
Inside the tent.

Liu Che and his ministers including Huo Guang and Liu Quti had already left early.

Tonight is his last night in Jianzhang Palace, and he will set off for Chang'an tomorrow.

As for those people who were originally prepared for blood sacrifice here, they would naturally be dealt with by Liu Jing.

As a member of the royal family, Liu Jing did not need any status or position. He just took a token made of bamboo and wood that could mobilize the embroidered robe envoys.

The Embroidered Robe Messenger is similar to the "Jinyiwei" in later generations.

He is ordered to crack down on evil, run prisons, conduct inspections, patrol everywhere, and can also be in charge of special projects!
Once they discover something, they can report it directly to the emperor. After receiving the emperor's order, they can even kill first and report later...

The token in his hand can be used to summon the envoy in embroidered robes, and it is also the evidence that he is responsible for this case.

From then on, he only needed to report the case to Liu Che, and no one could stop him.

Thinking of this, Liu Jing was playing with the talisman in his hand.

"Grandson Jing, the current Crown Prince's Palace... No! His Majesty has made up his mind to abolish the Crown Prince, this is obvious. Now you are asked to take on these tasks, have you ever thought about why? Why did you take on this task?"

At this moment, Shi De, who had been watching Liu Jing in deep thought, finally couldn't help it.

"Why?" Liu Jing pretended to know.

"It's because witchcraft has turned into poison, and because Your Majesty wants a sharp blade!"

"And the grandson of Emperor Jing caused the celestial phenomena to change three times. After a while, not only will the whole city of Chang'an know about this, I'm afraid that everyone in the world will hear these legends..."

"Your Majesty worshipped alchemists in the past, and because of your Majesty's preference, the counties and prefectures searched for great and elegant people and recommended them to the court... So many years have passed, how many wealthy families, noble relatives, and meritorious generals have been involved?"

"Especially in recent years, the theory of witchcraft has become popular. Once reported and exposed, if someone uses witchcraft to harm others, he or she will be killed."

"So even if it's just for precaution, each family will hire some extraordinary people with higher reputation. Some will even hire alchemists from the same faction for the sake of protection or even to climb up the ladder."

"For example, after Tan He, a Hu witch, was appointed by His Majesty, the status of Hu witches in Chang'an rose significantly."

"Now that Tan He has been killed by His Highness with thunderbolts, Chang'an will surely be in chaos. Those who used Hu Wu to frame others will also face the reckoning of others."

"The increasingly chaotic situation requires a person with greater reputation to calm it down! And Your Highness, that person is it! That's why His Majesty chose you!"

"Isn't this a good thing?" Liu Jing asked again.

"Your Highness only sees the good, but not the bad." Shi De said helplessly: "It is precisely because the alchemists are deeply rooted that once Your Highness intervenes, he will inevitably take on other people's cause and effect disputes on himself."

"But now, Grandson Jing is no longer Grandson Jing of the Crown Prince's Palace."

"You are just a grandson of the Emperor Jing who has taken the talisman of the Embroidered Robe Envoy. His Majesty can take it back. What will happen then? Grandson Jing will definitely be abandoned!"

"Moreover, as long as your majesty's view on immortality remains unchanged, the alchemists we eliminated today will come back sooner or later. Just like Luan Da and others before, even if they were beheaded and purged, in just two or three years, there will be another group of alchemists seeking immortality in Chang'an City."

"And Your Highness, just like Zhang Tang, Yi Zong, and Wang Wenshu before him, will be abandoned!"

"By then, the Crown Prince, the eldest grandson, and even the current members of the Crown Prince's Palace will no longer have a chance to recover. The burden on Grandson Jing is no longer just yours!"

Listening to Shi De's impassioned exhortation.

Liu Jing was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Then according to what Master said..."

"Now is the time to win over the ministers."

"Coaxing?"

Sensing that Liu Jing intended to listen to his opinion, Shi De's eyes lit up and he said hurriedly: "Things are done by people, bad things can also turn into good things, and urgent things should be dealt with slowly. The grandson of the Emperor Jing only needs to take this opportunity to win over some ministers... Even if the crown prince is temporarily abolished by His Majesty. But while we are handling the case in secret, we can also quickly expand our own strength..."

Seeing that Liu Jing was still hesitating, he quickly said:

"Even when we return to Chang'an tomorrow, Your Highness only needs to wait in the mansion. Someone will come to the door by then. At that time, Your Highness can listen to our opinions and select officials who are willing to help my Crown Prince's Palace."

"When the time comes, we only need to turn a blind eye when handling the case, and they will surely be grateful."

"The alchemists will make a comeback, so we must leave them a chance and show some mercy to the officials from all sides."

Liu Jing looked at the man who was talking eloquently, and wondered in his mind why Liu Che did not like the prince.

I'm afraid I guessed right!
He looked at Liu Ju who was standing beside him. "Father is the crown prince. He had previously called on the palace guards to burn to death those witches who had framed the crown prince's palace. What do you think of what Master Shaofu said?"

Liu Ju was stunned for a moment, then his expression became complicated. "I will no longer be the crown prince soon. If I were the crown prince, I would certainly kill these witches, but... what Master said makes sense."

"It's impossible to purge all the alchemists. In recent years, counties and prefectures have replaced the recommendation system for selecting filial and honest officials. Many princes and nobles in the capital also use these people... It's okay to offend one or two, but it's absolutely not okay to offend all of them. As a father, I have suffered a lot over the years..."

"If, as Master Shaofu said, Your Majesty re-employs the alchemists, my son will be in danger!" "Your father has reminded you several times just now, why didn't you listen!"

Liu Ju was pessimistic and had lost his fighting spirit long ago because he had lost his position as crown prince.

Seeing this, Liu Jing just smiled and said, "Father, your consideration does make sense."

"It's just that since we have agreed on three things, we have to do them first."

"First, interrogate Su Wen, Han Shuo, Wang Bi and their ilk, and catch the people behind them. Second, order local officials not to use witchcraft to harm people again, and redress Gongsun He as a landmark event. Third, use this case to expel all the alchemists and wizards in Chang'an City, and clean up the officialdom!"

"Your Majesty, if you really want to employ the alchemists again, I can just write another "Deliverance of Vows" and get struck by lightning again! What's there to be afraid of?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Ju and Shi De's faces changed drastically.

This almost makes it clear that he will not turn back until he hits a wall.

But by doing so, isn't it going against Your Majesty and trying to follow in the footsteps of Zhang Tang and his ilk?
Under the counterattack of the ministers, what can a deposed prince's palace use to protect you?

He just felt that his advice just now was like talking to a deaf person.
This grandson of Emperor Jing is indeed brave but not wise. He has already made it clear that he is being used by His Majesty, yet he still dares to act recklessly!

He looked at Liu Jing earnestly, and said in an impassioned voice, "Your Highness, please consider the Crown Prince's Palace! Being young and impetuous will only put you in danger!"

"It's not that His Majesty values ​​Your Highness, this is probably intentional. The only advantage of Grandson Jing is God's blessing. But by doing this, the ministers are indignant, the opportunities for clinging to the throne in recent years have been disrupted, and local counties are complaining. Grandson Jing has offended so many people, how can he be blessed by God?"

"If you lose the blessing of God, the fate of Zhang Tang and others will come. Your Highness has repeatedly offended the emperor before. Do you really think that Your Majesty is magnanimous?"

But the latter also looked at him with a stern gaze and a warning in his voice.

"These three things will never change!"

"Tonight, I will release all the civilians and prisoners who participated in my father's uprising and were imprisoned in Yulin and Qimen Army because of the witchcraft incident!"

"The first thing I will do when I return to Chang'an tomorrow is to interrogate Wang Bi!"

……

at the same time.

Liu Che has returned to Jianzhang Palace.

"Your Majesty..." A new group of eunuchs had been replaced in the palace. When they saw Liu Che coming back, they hurried forward and were extremely respectful.

"What's the matter?" Liu Che frowned.

When he saw these unfamiliar faces, he instinctively felt a little distrustful.

"Madam Gouyi has been kneeling, waiting for His Majesty to come back. No matter how much the servants beg, they can't get him back."

"Hmm?" Liu Che was surprised, and then thought of something.

"Take me to see..."

"promise!"

After a while, Liu Che saw Lady Gouyi, who had been kneeling in the hall for what seemed like several hours and whose face had turned pale.

"His Majesty!"

When the other party saw Liu Che finally arrived, she burst into tears and couldn't stop crying.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty! I deserve to die. I wanted to share Your Majesty's worries, but I didn't expect to be deceived by a traitor."

"I am blind and have no idea of ​​people. I am a woman, but I believed what Jiang Chong said when she first came back from the Xiongnu, and let her cause unrest in Chang'an."

As he said this, he prostrated himself on the ground, crying heart-wrenchingly and regretting his entire life.

"Wuwu... Your Majesty, please punish me!"

Everything in front of her was blurry and Lady Gouyi just cried in regret. She didn't know what punishment she would receive next.

I just pray that I will not lose the Holy Grace.

However, the next moment, as an old and gentle voice sounded, she was stunned where she was.

"What are you guilty of?"

(End of this chapter)