In the hall, there were loud cries, but Emperor Liu still squatted down and calmly explained that Wang Pu had lost his breath. An emotion called pathos accumulated and brewed in his heart. Wang Pu walked away peacefully, It can even be said that it is a kind of relief.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Chengyou gently put Wang Pu's hand on his abdomen and stood up. Because he had been squatting for a long time, his head felt dizzy and his body shook. Yan Tuo was shocked and he hurriedly helped him. , nervously concerned: "Guan family!"
After a while, Liu Chengyou suppressed the sadness in his heart, got rid of Yantuo's support, looked at Wang Pu's remains again, turned around, stopped in front of Wang Qian who looked full of grief, and ordered: "Haosheng takes care of your father's funeral." !”
"Yes!" Wang Qian burst into tears.
With a sad mood, he left the palace with heavy and slow steps. As he walked, the sadness on his face gradually appeared. Over the years, Emperor Liu had experienced the death of too many good ministers and generals, and there were many that made him feel sad. People like Gao Xingzhou, Zhe Congruan, Zhao Hui, Jing Fan...
But what has to be said is that no one has ever made Emperor Liu feel more sentimental than the death of Wang Pu. To be unfilial, when the great ancestor Liu Zhiyuan passed away, he was not so sad and reluctant.
"I have told you that Wang Pu's reputation and virtue should be determined, and it is up to Wei Xianggong to be responsible. Let Xue Juzheng personally write a biography for Wang Pu and write a Shinto inscription!" Before boarding the carriage back to the palace, Liu Chengyou ordered Yan Tuo.
"Your Majesty!" Lu Yin rushed up, holding a document in both hands. Noticing Emperor Liu's gaze, Lu Yin took the initiative to report: "This is the testament submitted by Wang Qian before his death!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu directly reached out to take it and ordered: "Go back to the palace!"
Under the close protection of the palace guards, the grand imperial driver returned to the imperial city with a majestic ceremony and a solemn atmosphere. Inside the imperial chariot, leaning slightly against the carriage, Liu Chengyou opened Wang Pu's suicide note and read it silently.
In this posthumous memorial, Wang Pu did not mention one word of his previous achievements and his posthumous reputation. What he considered was still the Han Dynasty, the imperial court, and the people of the world. Wang Pu first affirmed the Qianyou Ten After five years of achievements, he began to warn Emperor Liu. There was only one core idea, and that was the rule of Qianyou. Although the world was in peace and tending to rule, it was still a chaotic world after all, and it was still a process of calming the world. After the unification of the north and the south, policies needed to be changed in terms of governing the country, the military, and the people. The policies of the Qianyou period needed to be adjusted according to changes in the current situation and changes in people's hearts.
It can be said that Wang Pu's ideas and consciousness are consistent with those of Emperor Liu. Wang Pu did not mention the specific strategies for governing the country. In his words, there are many talented and capable officials in the court. As long as they are properly appointed, they will be able to govern. What a big man.
Finally, Wang Pu put forward a few targeted issues regarding the problems existing in the Han Dynasty.
First, there is the problem of redundant officials and redundant personnel. There is too much slack and bloated personnel in the imperial court and central areas, which not only consumes the country's money and food, but also hinders administrative efficiency;
Secondly, the issue of the tax system. Although the Two Tax Laws inherited from the Middle Tang Dynasty have been implemented for two hundred years, the problems it has caused have become very prominent. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing day by day, and the principle of sharing taxes between the rich and the poor is difficult to implement.
, if there are no reforms and adjustments to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, one day, the national finance will be impoverished;
Thirdly, regarding the issue of government-owned industries, the imperial government’s government-owned industries were involved in too many areas and there were many complaints from the people. Industries such as wine and sugar should be opened appropriately to allow people’s freedom;
Fourth, the problem of meritorious officials: excessive rewards, excessive treatment, too many meritorious officials, and a chaotic noble system. If no adjustments are made, this will bring a huge financial burden to the court;
Fifth, regarding the land issue, although the imperial court has formulated some policies to inhibit annexation, it ultimately treats the symptoms rather than the root cause. As long as the free sale and purchase of land is not prohibited, social conflicts will inevitably break out as the population surges. The nobles of the Han Dynasty and the bureaucrats will purchase land extensively.
There are so many of them that we must not ignore them;
Sixth, the issue of the official system, from the central to the local level, there are many contradictions and unclear rights and responsibilities. It needs to be sorted out as a whole. The selection, education, and training system of officials need to be further improved;
Seventh, the issue of opening borders. At present, the country should focus on recuperating and developing national strength. When deploying troops abroad, it should be done cautiously, and not to enjoy great achievements and expand blindly;
Eighth, we must pay attention to the problem of flooding in Huang-Bian-Huai River and water affairs and river engineering;
Ninth, the issue of the South. The South, especially Jiangsu and Zhejiang, has become the most important fiscal and taxation area for the imperial court, and old disadvantages must be eliminated;
Tenth, regarding the capital issue, Kaifeng is the hub between the north and the south and the hub connecting the north and the south, and the imperial court is deeply rooted in this, so it is not appropriate to move the capital rashly.
"While I am on the sick bed, I still worry about the country and care about the world. It is my honor to have such a minister!" Putting away the memorial, Liu Chengyou let out a deep sigh: "It is a pity that God is unkind and takes away this good minister.
What a pity!”
In general, Wang Pu's ten articles related to all aspects of the current Han Dynasty. Some of them were urgent matters, some of which Emperor Liu had already started to adjust, and most of them were very satisfactory to him. Therefore, for this memorial, Liu
While the emperor was feeling emotional, he also paid special attention to it.
In addition to these ten points, Wang Pu only reminded Emperor Liu at the end, to the effect that none of his sons, except his eldest son Wang Qian, had any outstanding talents, and Wang Qian was despicable and could not be a good minister.
Because he, a deceased person, was given too much importance and promotion...
For a minister like Wang Pu, Liu Chengyou's heart was not only sad but also moved when he passed away. Although, during the fifteen years of the Qianyou year, Wang Pu did not stay in the central government for a long time.
, the figure who ruled the world did not have so many great achievements, high prestige, and was even criticized many times, but his actions, his loyalty to the Han Dynasty and his achievements were real. In the process of the Han Dynasty conquering the world,
Ministers who play a key role must have a place with Wang Pu.
Judging from his performance up to the time of his death, it is not an exaggeration at all to describe him as having devoted himself to death.
When the emperor had such a mentality and viewed and evaluated Wang Pu, the country naturally respected Wang Pu extraordinarily. He was awarded the title of Grand Master, Shizhong, Jia Te Jin, and the Duke of Yan, and the posthumous title given to Wang Pu was also a civil servant.
The highest level of Wen Zhen.
When the imperial court sorted out the heroes of Qianyou, Wang Pu was the first to be "finalized".
Emperor Liu announced that he would withdraw from court for three days as a sign of mourning. Even the family banquet on the Lantern Festival was simply passed, and neither the prince nor the eldest son showed much joy for the prince and the eldest son who returned to Beijing.
However, what happened during the funeral of Wang Pu made Emperor Liu feel a little uncomfortable. The reason was that Wang Qian made the funeral too grand, so grand that Emperor Liu felt that it had somewhat tarnished the king.
Wang Pu's reputation, but in the end he did not express any other opinion on the matter. After all, the former showed the highest respect to Wang Pu. If only because the later people made the funeral more grand, he would reprimand him.
Even condemnation is inappropriate.
Therefore, Emperor Liu was not stingy at all about the treatment he should give Wang Pu. In addition to the above honors, he also gave him the title of Wang Pu and promoted him to an official position. At the same time, this decision also gave a lot of credit to many civil and military heroes.
Reassurance, after all, the former's edict to reassign meritorious officials caused a stir.
Wang Pu's funeral at least proves that the emperor will not treat meritorious officials harshly.
