Lu Duoxun became the first prime minister to be killed since the founding of the Han Dynasty. These words were spoken by Emperor Liu, even though his tone was colder, but they were light and airy, and there seemed to be no burden at all.
For the few people present at this time, it felt like a deafening feeling. Liu Yang raised his head slightly, looked at Emperor Liu in surprise, and then lowered his head slightly to hide his bitter expression.
As for Gao Qiong, he seemed to have heard nothing and understood nothing. He stared straight at the sparse yellow grass and made eye contact with insects and ants, but his heart was filled with ups and downs.
In fact, when the prince came, Gao Qiong had already wanted to resign, but he did not dare to retreat rashly because he was not sure about Emperor Liu's identity. However, the questions and answers between the emperor and the prince could not be stopped.
It's stuck in his ears and can't be stopped.
When he heard that Emperor Liu had sentenced Lu Duoxun to death, even Gao Qiong could not help but tremble in his heart. Although Gao Qiong was not familiar with Lu Duoxun and had never even interacted with him, he was the prime minister after all.
The most powerful minister in the imperial court besides Zhao Pu.
However, with such an identity and status, Emperor Liu would kill him if he said so. Although Gao Qiong lacked cultural literacy, he was not stupid. On the contrary, he was very smart, had a certain sense of politics, and had always been keen on grasping the situation.
With that kind of insight and determination, he would not have grabbed the biggest piece of cake during the Shu Rebellion in Guanzhong and personally captured the rebel leader Wang Shun. At that time, Gao Qiong was just an insignificant Lieutenant of Yusi County.
What Gao Qiong is worried about is the possible impact of Lu Duoxun's murder. It is true that the Han Dynasty has never had a tradition of "not punishing officials". In the past thirty years, many officials have been killed for various crimes.
There were hundreds or even thousands, but they never killed the prime minister.
In most people's understanding, being a minister in court not only represents a position of power, but also a halo. It is beyond a certain level and is different from ordinary ministers and bureaucrats.
Even if you make a mistake or fail in the political struggle, you can just be demoted and sent away. This was basically done in the past. Why behead your head? The benevolence and forgiveness advocated by many people and the political maturity they pursue are probably reflected in this.
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Even though Lu Duosun was charged with dozens of charges and so many people criticized the impeachment, most of them just wanted to bring him down in order to gain political interests. I’m afraid not many people really want Lu Duosun dead.
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Demoting Lu Duoxun from the capital and vacating many positions occupied by the "Lu Party" will satisfy most people. Those who asked to kill Lu Duoxun in the above list are either deeply grudged or short-sighted.
There is no "big picture awareness".
But now it seems that this unspoken rule formed over decades and the consensus reached by the officials and officials of the Manchu Dynasty is about to be broken. Even if this unspoken rule and consensus were cultivated intentionally or unintentionally by Emperor Liu, now, in view of the
The many dissatisfactions and negative emotions accumulated in his heart made him eager to vent them out, break them with his own hands, set an example for the ministers and bureaucrats, and put another tight spell on them.
Gao Qiong naturally couldn't think of going that far, but he couldn't help but think about it. The prime minister can be executed, but what about the generals? Over the years, the same military law has dealt with a large number of generals and officers, but high-level generals have never been killed. At most, they have seized power and dismissed them.
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Once Lu Duoxun's words were opened, does it also mean that the generals are not so safe?
Emperor Liu didn't care about the reactions of the people around him, but quickly calmed down his momentum and asked calmly: "I heard that Lu Yi is dead?"
After hearing the question, Liu Yang did not dare to be negligent and sighed with a little pity in his tone: "Lu Yi died of illness ten days ago. However, so far, the family has only simply collected the burial and set up a mourning hall, and no one has come to express condolences...
..."
After hearing this report, Emperor Liu's face showed no emotion, but his tone completely softened, and he pondered for a moment, and said: "Lu Duoxun, father and son, are completely two types of people. Lu Yijin has been loyal to the king for more than 20 years.
, there is no great achievement, but there is also hard work. If the scene is bleak tonight and I go away lonely, I can't bear it in my heart.
Lu Mengzheng's death made me even more emotional. How could his wish not come true? Let's let the Lu family help the spirit out of the capital and return to their hometown for burial. As for the Lu Duoxun family, they don't have to be exiled to the border.
Let them cultivate the land in the countryside and support themselves!"
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Liu Yang solemnly responded: "Yes!"
At the same time, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Emperor Liu did not go too far with his arrangement, and he still had a trace of mercy. Of course, this also benefited from Lu Yi's profound sense of justice.
"Lu Duoxun and the others dare not make the decision without authorization, what about the others?" Emperor Liu asked.
"After several months of investigation and trial, the results have come out one after another!"
"Speak directly! How many people were killed?" Emperor Liu glanced at Liu Yang.
Liu Yang paused for a moment, and then slowly said: "Based on the judgment of the Three Justices Division, it was finally decided that eighty-three people were sentenced to death, and the rest were sentenced to various exiles according to the severity of their crimes!"
Hearing this, Emperor Liu smiled a little, but with a dissatisfied smile, and said calmly: "It's missing!"
Then, in Liu Yang's somewhat horrified eyes, he gave instructions: "At least two hundred people!"
The autumn wind in August was not that cold, and even made people feel refreshed. However, when Emperor Liu said these words, it made people feel chilled to the bone. Such naked use of the number of officials executed as an indicator is really cruel.
Liu Yang opened his mouth, subconsciously trying to dissuade him. However, seeing Emperor Liu's unquestionable expression, he still had to suppress his worries.
Emperor Liu ignored Liu Yang's thoughts and said to himself: "It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's such a festival and it's inconvenient to add more killings. Let's wait until after the Mid-Autumn Festival to have a separate autumn showdown. At that time, let all the ministers go to watch the execution and have a good time.
Look at the fate of these corrupt people who form cliques for personal gain, and more! Go and behead them yourself!"
Under Emperor Liu's oppressive gaze, Liu Yang didn't dare to respond even if he felt panicked. He could only bow his head and say, "Yes!"
...
On the way back to the palace, Emperor Liu asked Liu Yang to ride with him on the Luan Chai. Emperor Liu was still sitting there indifferently, and he was still interested in reading a volume of "General Classification of Kaibao", which was about criminal law.
s things.
Liu Yang sat respectfully aside, his body swaying slightly as Luan Jia drove, but he looked slightly depressed, his face was deep, and his face was full of contemplation.
As the Tokyo city wall got closer and closer, Emperor Liu put down the scroll in his hand and finally said: "Why, you haven't figured it out yet?"
After hearing the question, Liu Yang shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said: "The outbreak of Lu Gu has shocked both the government and the public. So many people have been arrested. My father wants less Lu Duoxun, and my son agrees. Then, I will definitely kill him again."
So human?"
Hearing this, Emperor Liu was not angry. He looked at Liu Yang calmly and said slowly: "I don't know when you became such a womanly person. Of course I also know that for your so-called stability
People's hearts can kill less people, or even not kill people at all, but this time, they must kill!
The imperial court has been stable for so many years, and peace is peace, but it has also accumulated too many problems and has developed some ills that need to be rectified. The problem of Ludosun's clique is the most obvious manifestation of it.
In this regard, the imperial court had to take heavy measures and impose severe punishments. Otherwise, the courtiers could not be frightened. As I have said before, the fundamental problem is difficult to solve, but even if it is a temporary solution, it should be used.
I also know that according to past practice, some people do not need to die, and their families do not need to be exiled. However, because of this, I cannot let them develop the habit of treating the court's tolerance as their wanton behavior.
rely.
Some problems, without severe punishments, are not enough to wake them up! If the problem is so big and involves so many people, it must not end in an anticlimax, and it will not be enough to achieve results unless it is full of heads and dripping with blood.
Let me remind you again, Ren Shu is for those loyal ministers, honest officials, and good people, not for these corrupt officials who are against the same party and against dissidents, and violate the law and chaos. Who would be tolerant to them?
Is it tolerance or indulgence? Think about it for yourself. If you want to be different..."
At this point, Emperor Liu stopped, frowned subconsciously, and was a little reluctant to continue. Looking at Liu Yang, whose expression was changing, Emperor Liu said almost every word: "Remember, you are
The prince is the heir apparent!"
Emperor Liu's words almost went straight to Liu Yang's heart. Probably forced by his momentum, his face turned a little pale.
After a long time, Emperor Liu softened his tone and said leisurely: "Why do you think I must kill Lu Duoxun? He was promoted by me. However, perhaps because of this, he regarded my respect and tolerance as indulgence.
, there is no room for maneuver when it comes to violating the bottom line, he has a reason to die..."
