The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 290 A fraud and a thief!

The ministers did not dare to gamble with the emperor.

How could a bunch of cowardly good-for-nothings dare to exchange their own clan for Chen Qian?
Is Chen Qian really the emperor's confidant?
No, only people like Huabiao and Zhong Hui who made great contributions in subduing Gao Rou can be called confidants. What did Chen Qian do when Gao Rou rebelled?
In fact, Lu Xun’s accusation could not be considered a false accusation, because Chen Qian himself was actually involved in Gao Rou’s rebellion.

It was just because the emperor still needed his help that he did not hold him accountable and pardoned him.

Why doesn't the emperor dare to exchange a person who is temporarily pardoned for his ministers?
Just because he is the Chief Justice?
Compared to Chen Qian, who was able to arrest people, Zheng Mao, who was able to arrange people, might be more important to the emperor.

If Chen Qian's entire clan were executed this time, then even if the emperor didn't dare to kill all the ministers, there would always be an unlucky person who would die with Chen Qian. How could the ministers be sure that they would not be that unlucky person?

Who is willing to bet on this probability?
Guo Zhang, who had been in correspondence with Gao Rou for many years, did not dare to gamble.

He vaguely saw the general's expression on the emperor's face. At this moment, Guo Zhang looked at Lu Xun with eyes full of hostility.

Gao Rou was just arrested, and the emperor just pardoned our crimes, and you're jumping up and down, asking the emperor to punish us, right?
You are so good, Lu Xun, you dare to use our lives to pave the way for yourself!

A small Lu family that doesn't even have the qualifications to serve my family actually dares to use my family as a stepping stone?

Not only Guo Zhang, but also Xun Yi, Cui Zan and other ministers looked at Lu Xun with something strange in their eyes.

If we really want to hold Gao Rou's gang accountable, it's hard to say for others, but they are definitely finished.

How dare you, a thief, plot to murder us?!
Lu Xun was sweating profusely at this moment.

There's something wrong with this script. Wasn't he helping the temple boss get rid of Chen Qian? Shouldn't they be here to thank him?

Why do they look so hostile?

When those people came to find me, they made it very clear.

Through this matter, she gained fame and the favor of the ministers. As long as the matter could be accomplished, Meiji would rise to a high position and have a bright future.

What went wrong?

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat, looking at the ministers with different expressions, feeling quite depressed.

Sometimes, he suddenly understood his father-in-law. No wonder he always wanted to cancel people's household registration. After he really started to rule the country, Cao Mao finally knew what it felt like to be constantly held back when doing things.

Cao Mao is currently doing a lot of things. Zhong Hui is working with the royal family and contacting foreign generals to deal with General Wei.

Chen Qian is eliminating those good-for-nothings in the temple.

Zheng Mao recommended capable people to take up key positions.

Wang Jing was replacing local officials in the entire Sili region.

Cao Mao had the most things to do. He was winning over capable officials, establishing a new temple structure, weakening the monopoly of the big families, trying to quickly take control of the army, and so on.

But these insects in the temple have always been holding him back.

They opposed his improvement in the treatment of the soldiers, opposed Chen Qian's elimination of traitors, and opposed Zheng Mao's recommendation of talents. In other words, what Zhong Hui did was relatively concealed and not spread out. When the ministers knew that Zhong Hui wanted to release the royal family, they would still oppose it.

These bastards, I just dealt with Gao Rou, the blood on the knife hasn't been wiped clean yet, and they dare to jump up and cause trouble like this.

What if we give them some time to grow?

Cao Mao's expression was very serious. He was still not fast enough. He had to speed up again, even if it was just in name, to take the power of the country into his own hands.

Zhong Hui was standing beside Cao Mao at this moment, looking at the ministers with disdain.

He has always looked down on these insects, and even felt that they should not attend the banquets of celebrities. Do you think people like you can attend the Dongtang Banquet?

I'll set a threshold next time.

However, the ministers were not idle. After Guo Zhang, several ministers such as Xun Yi, who were originally close to Gao Rou, also began to persuade Cao Mao.

Even Zheng Chong suffered the same fate.

There's nothing the old man can do about it, after all, he's the mastermind!

At this moment, even he was a little dissatisfied with Lu Xun. I provoke you, why do you want to murder me?
"Your Majesty, Gao Rou was once the Minister of Rites, the head of the court. Many officials exchanged letters with him. This letter alone is not enough to convict him. This matter must be carefully examined. How can we wrongly accuse an innocent man?"

Guo Zhang spoke.

Cao Mao hesitated a little and looked at everyone at the banquet.

"I've said before that you can speak freely. Regarding today's events, you can all share your opinions. I always welcome criticism, so feel free to speak your mind!"

Not only these important officials were present at the banquet, but also many young scholars.

After being encouraged by the emperor, these people immediately expressed their opinions.

Xun Yu stood up and said, "Your Majesty, what Lord Lu said is not without reason. Gao Rou is plotting rebellion, and how can we easily forgive the ministers who followed him in this rebellion? These traitors have lost the righteousness of being ministers, and sooner or later they will cause rebellion. It is better to punish them severely!"

Upon hearing this, Xun Xi's face suddenly turned dark.

Okay, okay, that's your advice, right? Do you really think you can't be punished by having your entire clan exterminated?
The situation soon began to develop in a strange direction. Most of the young scholars and common people demanded severe punishment, while the ministers in high positions believed in forgiveness.

This was probably the first time that young scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties expressed their views in such a public setting.

They were a little restrained at first, but as time went by, they became more and more proficient, speaking very quickly, and almost pointing at the old ministers to curse them.

Wang Xiang sat quietly among the ministers, looking at the young emperor sitting on the throne, his eyes full of confusion. He really didn't understand what the emperor wanted to do.

Aren’t you afraid that you won’t be able to suppress these scholars?

Why do you encourage them to rebel against authority? You are the greatest authority. If propriety and law are destroyed, you will be the first to fall!
Zhong Hui looked at the young scholars with a face full of satisfaction.

There are sage kings governing the world, so wise men emerge in large numbers.

Just when everyone was arguing, someone came here again.

Everyone in the East Hall suddenly became quiet.

There are two people coming.

One old and one young.

The old man narrowed his eyes and looked at the many famous people in front of him. It was none other than Wang Su, the former Minister of Rites of the Great Wei.

The young man following him, with long hair and bright eyes, was Sima Anshi.

Cao Mao was a little surprised.

And everyone has started to stand up and pay their respects.

The old man Wang Su still has a great reputation, mainly because of his high attainments in Confucian classics. In the past, he was second only to the Three Dukes in the temple. But now the Three Dukes have almost fallen, and the new Wang Xiang is involved in Gao Rou's affairs. It can be said that they are in name only, and Wang Su's status has risen again.

As a Confucian scholar, when you have outlasted all your peers, you will become a contemporary Confucian scholar.

The two men came before Cao Mao and bowed to him.

"Please get up, please get up."

Cao Mao smiled and offered them seats. Wang Su sat on Cao Mao's left, and Sima Yan sat among the young people.

As soon as Wang Su sat down, his sharp eyes began to wander among the ministers and quickly locked onto Wang Xiang, who wanted to bury his head.

Wang Xiang was almost broken at this moment.

It’s all that stupid idiot Lu Xun’s fault.

I originally wanted to make an excuse for myself in advance while Wang Su was away, but this guy's fuss has delayed my important plan!
Cao Mao was also a little suspicious at this moment. He didn't invite this person at all. Given his personality, why would he come over on his own initiative?

He originally wanted Wang Xiang to finish his defense as soon as possible, but Wang Su's sudden arrival disrupted his plan.

"My Lord, you have come from afar and have not even rested. Why are you here?"

Cao Mao asked.

Wang Su said, "I heard from the younger generation in my family that His Majesty is holding a banquet in the East Hall to discuss the classics. I have been fond of the classics since I was young, so I followed him here uninvited."

Cao Mao looked at Sima Yan, who smiled and winked at him.

His expression even looked a little smug.

You're so good, Sima Anshi, you're trying this on me again, right?

This was not the first time for Sima Yan, and the key point was that he always felt that he had made a contribution.

Cao Mao noticed that Wang Su's eyes were becoming increasingly fierce as he looked at Wang Xiang, and he quickly said, "Your Excellency, you have arrived at the perfect time. We are discussing an important matter!"

He quickly informed Wang Su of what everyone was debating and asked him to express his opinion.

"Your Majesty, does the Great Wei have no laws? Do we still need these people to discuss how to deal with criminals?"

Wang Su showed no mercy to the crowd. He spoke directly, "This matter should be handled according to the law. If he really did commit a crime, then he should be severely punished. If not, then the charges should be cleared. There is nothing to say."

The celebrities looked at him unkindly, but Wang Su ignored them and looked directly at Wang Xiang.

“There are some things that the law cannot deal with.”

"Wang Xiang, you are older than me, so I shouldn't call you by your name. But you are going too far! I really can't stand it!!"

Wang Su stood up and stared at the other man. "I taught Taixuan to Your Majesty, and you later became the Imperial Preceptor. How dare you steal my knowledge from Your Majesty and claim it was your own?"

"You deceived the world and stole my knowledge to become the Minister of Rites!"

"Do you really think there is no justice in this world?!"

Wang Su's scolding caused an uproar in the hall.

Suddenly hearing such a big news, the celebrities could no longer sit still. Several people around Wang Xiang even took the initiative to make way so that Wang Xiang could face Wang Su directly.

Lu Xun was a little confused at the moment. What about my situation?
The result hasn't even been announced yet, so why are everyone going to watch those two people?
Wang Xiang took a deep breath.

At this point, he had no other way out. He stood up and looked at the other person seriously.

"My Lord, I have also studied the classics since I was young. Even though I am not as good as you, I have made some progress. Why do you say this?"

(End of this chapter)