Summer has entered, and the weather has begun to get hot, but it has no impact on the prison. Coldness is its characteristic, and humidity is synonymous with it.
Of course, the imperial prison in the imperial city is not as scary as the outside world imagines. Apart from being tightly guarded, with less lighting, and a bit quieter and more eerie, there are no other shortcomings. When it comes to cleanliness and tidiness, the sanitation of the imperial prison is probably the best among all prisons in the world.
the best.
As for the reason why the imperial edict prison was feared and feared by people, and even rumors were spread, it was simply that those who entered the imperial edict prison were all nobles and bureaucrats with a certain status in the court. The cases were generally decided by the emperor, and few of them could get out alive.
For the Han Dynasty bureaucrats, entering the imperial edict not only meant the end of their career, but also basically represented the end of their lives, and would affect the next generation. Therefore, no one wanted to have anything to do with the imperial edict.
In the early summer of the 11th year of Qianyu, the imperial prison welcomed a new high-ranking official. In recent years, the criminals received by the imperial prison were not many in comparison, but only a few had a major impact.
people.
Among the ministers, before Zhao Li, it was Prince Ren Jingchong, and before that, it was former prime minister Yang Bin. And among so many people, only Yang Bin walked out of the imperial prison alive, and everyone else died, without exception.
Yang Bin's end was not a good one. For eight years, Mr. Yang was still squatting in a kiln in the Jingyuan area. However, it is said that he could still live in poverty, survive the bitter cold, and his body and bones were still healthy.
There was a sound of footsteps in the silent and cold passage, step by step, clear and heavy, stepping on the hearts of the prisoners. As if feeling something, Zhao Li raised his head, and after a rustling sound of unlocking, the tightly closed prisoners
The iron door of the room was opened.
He had been imprisoned for only a few days, but Zhao Li looked much older, like those who had suffered a major blow. These days, in this high-walled iron gate surrounded by thick walls, he rarely recalled and reflected on his life.
Official career.
He became an official in the Later Tang Dynasty and wasted his time in the Later Jin Dynasty. When the Han Dynasty was established, Liu Chengyou visited Luoyang in the west in the first year of Qianyou, and then he entered the emperor's field of vision. From then on, he made rapid progress.
He came from a humble background and was promoted by the emperor. In his early years, he repaid the emperor with great enthusiasm and devoted himself wholeheartedly. The reconstruction of the supervisory system of the Han Dynasty, the restoration of supervisory systems at all levels, and the selection of internal and external censors, Zhao
Li has made great contributions.
Of course, the emperor did not treat him lightly for his loyalty and dedication. He was a high-ranking official with great power, and he was never stingy with his titles and salaries.
These ten years were the ten years when Zhao Li became famous, the ten years when he had unlimited glory. However, when did he start to degenerate and use power for personal gain? After thinking a lot, he finally determined that it seemed that it was from that cold winter that he accepted the
A basket of charcoal, and then favors, money, and beauties came one after another, until now.
It is inevitable to look back on the past and say regret, but only when regret is useless can we see things so clearly and have a thorough understanding.
Guo Tong took two steps into the cell and looked at Zhao Li, who was sitting there blankly. His eyes couldn't help but reveal a bit of emotion. The gray on his temples told the desolation of everything. You know, Zhao Li is not even 46 years old now.
.As the center of the imperial court and a high-ranking minister, Guo Tong was very clear about the favor and favor that Zhao Li received from the emperor.
Yesterday we built a high-rise building, today we are hosting guests, and tomorrow the building collapses. Such an ending is really sad.
Seeing that it was Guo Tong, Zhao Li perked up slightly, became a little more excited, and called out: "Guo Chengzhi!"
From Zhao Li's eyes, it seems that we can see a little hope. Guo Tong's expression was stiff and he said: "Your Majesty has spoken!"
Hearing this, Zhao Li immediately knelt down and knocked his forehead to the ground: "The guilty minister is hereby ordered!"
"Your Majesty said that Zhao Li has neglected his duties and violated the law. He has committed a heinous crime and has failed me!" Guo Tong said with almost no emotion in his voice: "Your Majesty also said that in consideration of the ten years of friendship between the monarch and his ministers, he will give you a dignity and you will be executed in the lawless field!
"
Hearing what Guo Tong said, Zhao Li couldn't help but tremble, and he felt like he was going limp, but he managed to hold on. His eyes slowly turned desperate, and then there were tears in his old eyes, and Zhao Li said in a calm tone: "
I have betrayed Your Majesty's kindness, and I shall be punished for my crime. I thank Your Majesty! I can no longer serve you in this life, but in the next life, I will make a grass ring to repay you!"
Watching Zhao Li's performance, Guo Tong gestured back, and two guards immediately brought up two trays, one with white silk and one with poisonous wine, and said: "I have brought two things to Mr. Zhao, please."
Take your pick!”
Looking up, Zhao Li suddenly asked sincerely: "I have a wish, and I hope it will come true!"
"Please speak!" Guo Tong frowned.
Zhao Li said: "On my deathbed, I wanted to give His Majesty the final performance!"
After a moment's hesitation, Guo Tong waved his hand and ordered: "Give him paper and pen!"
After about a stick of incense, Guo Tong put the paper with still wet ink in his arms, and then stared at Zhao Li. Seeing this, Zhao Li showed a wry smile, which somewhat reduced the sadness on his face.
He straightened his messy prison uniform, bowed solemnly towards the north, and then chose the poisonous wine. With slightly trembling hands, he picked up the cup filled with wine, gritted his teeth, and poured it into his mouth as if he was determined...
...
After it was confirmed that Zhao Li was dead, Guo Tong ordered people to clean up temporarily, and then returned to Chongzheng Hall with a heavy heart to resume his duties.
Zhao Li was deeply rooted in the supervisory system of the Han Dynasty. He had many disciples and old officials. Because he was trusted by the emperor, he was very powerful and was one of the most powerful people in the court. However, even such an important minister with great influence was dismissed without any sign.
.The emperor gave an order to arrest, imprison, interrogate, and sentence him to death, all with one word, without the ability to resist.
Zhao Li's death is not meaningless. It at least declares to the world the emperor's official attitude. Even if Zhao Li commits a crime, he will be punished and executed without mercy. But when it comes to others, it is enough to alert all officials.
On the other hand, it proves that in the current Han Dynasty, the ministerial power no longer has the strength to compete with the imperial power, and the situation in which the emperor is strong and the ministers are weak has been formed unconsciously.
"Your Majesty, Zhao Li has been sentenced to death!" Guo Tong walked into the Chongzheng Hall and returned his orders to Liu Chengyou who was sitting behind the imperial desk.
Liu Chengyou, who was directing the northwest immigration affairs, raised his eyelids and responded calmly: "Yes!"
The emperor's dull reaction was heart-wrenching. Guo Tong said: "Before Zhao Li died, he felt repentant and promised to repay His Majesty's kindness in the next life!"
"Haha! If regret is useful, what else does the law need to do?" Liu Chengyou chuckled, paused, and then said: "Inform his family to collect the body!"
"Your Majesty, Zhao Li's family property has been confiscated, and all his family members have been sent to Hunan..." Guo Tong reminded.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou sighed slightly and said: "Then I will give him a special decree and then exile him!"
"Your Majesty is benevolent!" Guo Tong immediately said with his hands in hand.
"After all, you have that friendship with me, so if you give him dignity, then that will be enough!" Liu Chengyou said lightly.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Guo Tong took out Zhao Li's handwriting and presented it respectfully: "Your Majesty, before Zhao Li died, he wrote a suicide note, and I will memorialize it on my behalf!"
"I have nothing to say to him, but he still has something to say to me?" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled, as if he was mocking.
He took it and looked at it for a while, and Liu Chengyou's eyes became serious. After pondering for a long time, he put down the ink-stained memorial and ordered to Guo Tong: "Go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and check the official affairs that Zhao Li has been doing recently. , bring them all to Chongzheng Hall!"
Somewhat curious about the emperor's performance, Guo Tong bowed: "Yes!"
Zhao Li's posthumous memorial did not show how much he regretted or how much he trusted the emperor. It was just a very normal memorial. But the content of the memorial was not ordinary at all. The person he spoke of was the army of the world. Disadvantages of officials.
The so-called malpractice of military personnel refers to the problem of retired and transferred officers that have spread all over the place. In the early years, when Liu Chengyou was reorganizing the imperial army, a large number of injured, retired and retired officers and soldiers were assigned to local places or worked as small officials in the countryside. , or serve as state and county sergeants, or lead rural soldiers.
In several wars, a group of meritorious men also emerged, and the imperial court rewarded them with merit. Many of them were transferred to other places over the years.
These arrangements were not only to refine the army, but also to appease the morale of the military, and at the same time strengthen the court's influence and control over local states and counties. The original intention was good, but over the years, problems arose.
