Wei Renpu's suicide note, to describe it as a note, may seem a little thin, but it is thick enough to be as thick as two fingers. It is wrapped with a simple cover and looks more like a book.
Holding the suicide note, Wei Renpu trembled slightly, stroking the surface gently, as if wiping away the non-existent dust, and slid his fingers across the blank space of the title, looking thoughtful.
"Tell someone to bring the brazier!" After a long time, Wei Renpu raised his head and ordered Wei Xianxin.
Soon, two servants quickly carried a pot of charcoal fire into the door, and the empty hall suddenly became a little more heated. The charcoal fire was heated up, and accompanied by a few wisps of light smoke, a flame was rising. Fighting against the winter wind tenaciously.
It was still early, but the sky looked much darker under the flames. The firelight reflected on Wei Renpu's face, revealing a face with complex emotions.
With a leisurely sigh, Wei Renpu raised his hand and threw the suicide note in his hand into the fire pot. When Wei Xianxin saw it, his face was shocked and he didn't care. He rushed forward with all his strength and rescued the suicide note.
Regardless of his embarrassment, Wei Xianxin carefully inspected the damage, then raised his hand and looked at Wei Renpu: "Father, this is your hard work! Why destroy it!"
"All this hard work has aroused His Majesty's suspicion. What's the use of saving it?" Wei Renpu sighed.
Others didn't know it, but Wei Xian, who served his father all day long, knew very well that there was absolutely nothing rebellious in this suicide note. It was just a political commentary, a summary of Wei Renpu's career as an official.
Seeing that Wei Renpu was going to destroy his hard work with his own hands, Wei Xianxin tried to dissuade him excitedly: "Father, now that your Majesty knows this, you are going to burn it. How will you explain it then? Wouldn't this approach be even more annoying? Suspect?"
Wei Xianxin obviously just wanted to dissuade him in order to save his hard work, but he obviously gave Wei Renpu a wake-up call. There was also a trace of hesitation on the old face. After thinking for a while, he waved his hand tiredly: "You are right, it was me who fell into the trap." !”
Seeing that his father's attitude softened, Wei Xianxin breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, held the memorial in his hands, and asked: "Father, what about this memorial?"
After looking at him, Wei Renpu said: "Put it away! As you said, you should present this thing to His Majesty on my behalf someday!"
"Yes!" When he responded, Wei Xianxin's voice was choked with sobs.
Seeing this, Wei Renpu smiled heartily: "You don't have to be like this, I am already suffering from old illness and I am about to die! When I die, nothing will happen, and there is no need to worry. Your Majesty is far more considerate than ordinary people, at least for you. Junior, I will still take more care of you!"
Wei Renpu spoke calmly, but Wei Xianxin felt even more desolate when he heard it. Before he knew it, his eyes were already red.
...
Wei Renpu finally left. He didn't even survive the thirteenth year of Kaibao. On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month of that year, he passed away suddenly in the palace of Duke Yu.
Just like before his death, Wei Renpu walked low-key and peacefully. In the few months before his death, except for Emperor Liu's visit once, no one else disturbed him. Even those who came to visit him with various thoughts were politely turned away. Okay, accept the gift and bring a gift in return, that's all.
Therefore, when the news of Wei Renpu's death spread, it also caused a wave of turmoil within the imperial court, which had been quiet for several months. Officialdom is a place for individuals to go to work, and even Wei Renpu was no exception. After ten years of silence, his actual influence on the imperial court It has subsided to a polar level.
But things are often like this. When people are alive, few people pay attention to them or even forget them. But after people die, all kinds of memorials and remembrances come one after another.
The crowds who came to express condolences almost broke through the threshold of Duke Yu's mansion, and facts also proved that Wei Renpu's reputation exploded for the last time, and the effect was considerable.
Those officials who had been promoted and favored by Wei Renpu all looked sad and mournful. Several disciples even cried loudly in the mourning hall, their voices hoarse, and they appeared even sadder than Wei Xianxin.
Many people can't help but sigh. Among the twenty-four ministers on the right, one more person has passed away. Wei Renpu's death is like saying goodbye to an era. The magnificent and exciting era at the beginning has indeed gradually faded away from today's people.
At the same time, it also means that the current Han Dynasty is a world of "latecomers" and "young people". This is indeed the case. The nobles and bureaucrats who now hold great power in the military and political affairs of the Han Dynasty have taken a step backwards. Years ago, he was still "lost to everyone", and even if he was somewhat famous, it was only the beginning of his success.
No matter how the ministers viewed Wei Renpu's death, Emperor Liu's mood was particularly complicated. After witnessing the departure of so many old ministers over the years, Emperor Liu mostly had a feeling of sadness, regret, and regret.
But only for Wei Renpu, there is an extra layer of complexity, and this layer of complexity can be explained by guilt, which comes from the unreasonable and inexplicable suspicion.
We asked ourselves, is a minister like Wei Renpu worth doubting? Is it necessary to doubt him? Of course, the answer in Emperor Liu's heart is yes...
However, after Wei Renpu passed away so desolately, Emperor Liu could calm down and mourn for a while to express regret and comfort himself.
It was bitterly cold outside and warm as spring indoors. Emperor Liu was dressed in a solemn black coat and stood in front of a row of lamp stands with a calm expression. He held a pair of scissors in his hand and slowly cut the candlelight.
Cut off a little candle wick, bring a little flame, watch it go out before your eyes, and return to eternal silence, and so on. Even if the prince Liu Yang enters the palace and stands beside him to salute, the rhythm of the movements does not change at all.
"Have you been to Duke Yu's Mansion?" Emperor Liu asked in a general tone while continuing his work, with a slight hint of sadness in his voice.
Liu Yang also looked very serious, and his mood was not very high. The teacher with whom he had the deepest friendship was undoubtedly Li Fang. However, when the crown prince was first appointed, Wei Renpu was the tutor appointed by Emperor Liu, and he also had a passion for teaching. .In terms of name, Wei Renpu was his master, and Liu Yang had experienced Wei Renpu's character and talents since he was a child, and he respected him very much in his heart.
The prince's temperament was much gentler than that of Emperor Liu. Therefore, since the person has passed away, the feeling of sadness and mourning is inevitable.
"I have been ordered by my father to go to the Duke of Yu's Mansion to express my condolences on my behalf!" Liu Yang was not in a very high mood and said in a low voice.
"It's very lively!" Emperor Liu said.
Liu Yang's expression was slightly stern. The word "lively" always seemed a bit inappropriate when it came from Emperor Liu's mouth at this time. However, Liu Yang did not dare to point it out. He just responded: "I heard that Mr. Yu died of illness. Everyone in Beijing Honorable ministers, ministers and officials, many come to express their condolences!"
"You are the prince and a student of Daoji. I think you are doing your best to go there on my behalf!" Emperor Liu murmured, seeming to be asking Liu Yang, but also seeming to be asking himself.
Liu Yang heard this, hesitated for a moment, and then asked: "Dad, Mr. Yu was a meritorious veteran and a close friend of yours. Now that he has passed away, why don't you go out of the palace in person and visit the Wei Mansion to express your condolences?"
Liu Yang was really curious. In the past, after the death of an old minister with Wei Renpu's status, Emperor Liu would personally go there to show his respect.
"I'm afraid that many people in this court are wondering and making random assumptions again!" Emperor Liu sighed, pointed at his old face with his free hand, and said: "To tell you the truth, I feel a bit shameless to face it!”
After a pause, Emperor Liu said quietly: "Besides, I have already said goodbye to him Daoji!"
There was a slight sense of desolation in Emperor Liu's tone, and Liu Yang was silent for a moment after hearing this.
After a while, Liu Yang mentioned something again and said: "When I was passing the government to pay my respects, I heard something. Wei Xianxin organized the funeral for Mr. Yu and only paid fifty guan of money. Many people said that because of Mr. Yu's Due to his status, even if his funeral ceremony is not too grand, it should not be so shabby, which is meant to accuse Wei Xianxin of being unfilial!"
"This is probably explained by Wei Daoji. Wei Xianxin is indeed a frugal character!" Emperor Liu sighed: "Although he lives in a noble family, he lives in simplicity. There is no shortage of such moral monarchs in the Han Dynasty. I feel that What a relief!”
Liu Yang: "Yu Gong's moral character and conduct are truly admirable!"
With a slight sigh, Emperor Liu said: "I have already drafted an edict regarding Wei Daoji's funeral, and it is up to you to announce and implement it!"
"yes!"
The mourning and honoring of Wei Renpu after his death was not beyond the norm, but this time Emperor Liu personally drafted the edict, and his intentions were considered sincere.
As if he had thought of something, he raised his left hand and pointed at the imperial eucalyptus. Emperor Liu said: "The Wei Mansion has submitted Daoji's memorial. There are a lot of things written on it. You should also take a look. Some of the contents should be useful to you!"
"Yes!" Liu Yang vaguely felt something unusual. He bowed his hands and walked to the royal eucalyptus. He picked up the posthumous notes and started reading them on the spot.
In this memorial of Wei Renpu, in addition to the summary of his career and the discussion of governance, the most critical, or most sensitive, part talks about some of the problems that exist in the Han Dynasty today. In translation, it is pointing out that Emperor Liu Some gains and losses in politics.
Among them, the key points mentioned are Emperor Liu's high-pressure assimilation policy towards the minority Hu people, his unyielding treatment of the Mobei Khitan, his hasty military reform, the consequences of forced relocation of wealthy people, prisoner camps, etc. ....
It can be said that Wei Renpu saw risks and hidden dangers in every policy that highlighted Emperor Liu's will, and saw the contradictions and crises hidden under the calm surface...
Liu Yang also obviously read this paragraph. After all, it was marked with Emperor Liu's ink pen, and his face became solemn. He raised his eyes and observed Emperor Liu's expression. Although he couldn't see anything, he still asked carefully: "I don't know what Dad is thinking about."
What are the instructions given by Duke Yu?"
"What instructions can I give?" Emperor Liu finally turned around, looked at Liu Yang, and said in a tired voice: "Among the court ministers, few can compare with Wei Daoji in terms of profound understanding of righteousness and foresight. What he said
These are not careless mistakes. As for the instructions, my instruction is that you should study it carefully. If there are serious disadvantages, you will need to make up for them in the future.
I will not and will not overthrow my own policies and ideas, but you are different. When you are the master of the country, you can do whatever you want!"
Hearing what Emperor Liu said, Liu Yang felt a little heavy and complicated. He opened his mouth to say something, but didn't know where to start.
Emperor Liu continued to sigh with emotion: "Obviously, although Wei Daoji lived in the palace, he was always concerned about the affairs of the court and the people of the world. This memorial is a great treatise.
I also understood why he didn't want to talk to me face to face during his lifetime. It was because he was afraid of arousing my suspicion and dissatisfaction. After his death, I naturally couldn't blame him harshly and live up to his sincere loyalty.
It's a pity that he underestimated me after all? Am I so stubborn and stupid that I can't listen to what others say..."