In the spring and March of the twenty-sixth year of Kaibao's reign, Prince Yansheng of Pingliang passed away at the age of seventy. The emperor was grieved endlessly and issued an edict to abolish the court for three days.
Regarding the death of Wang Yansheng, there are only a few words in the historical records, and the writing style is relatively obvious. There is a relatively complete record of the cause and course of death. It is probably that Wang Yansheng was drunk and got excited, so he visited the palace at night.
When I visited the National Pond in the garden, on a whim, I waved my knife and danced. I accidentally lost my footing and fell into the pond, drowning...
Of course, this is the final conclusion given by the official, and the real situation was investigated clearly one day after the incident and submitted to Emperor Liu. In the secret investigation report of the Imperial City Division, there is sufficient evidence that Wang Yansheng
It's suicide.
"What's so hard to think about? Why would you choose to die?" In the palace garden, Emperor Liu stood on the edge of Ming Lake, leaning on his staff, silently looking at the rippling water, and murmured.
There was a sentimental look on his old face, and his eyes were even a little red. After hearing the news of Wang Yansheng's death, Emperor Liu finally thought about what the "explanation" in Wang Yansheng's mouth the night before yesterday meant. A hard-working and accomplished Bai Zhan
Your noble life was enough to explain everything, and it was enough to eliminate all the dissatisfaction in Emperor Liu's heart. After all, the deceased was already dead...
Today's events are like reappearing yesterday's scene. Back then, Zhang Dinghou (formerly Duke Zhang Yanwei) complained and spoke nonsense at the wedding banquet of the eldest princess Liu Jia. Emperor Liu sent people to severely reprimand him. In fear, he went to the palace.
He committed suicide. This incident caused a stir at the time. After all, Zhang Yanwei was also a veteran of Emperor Liu's Yuan Cong, and in terms of qualifications, he was even higher than the generals of Qianyou.
This time, Wang Yansheng was also convicted for his words. Although Emperor Liu did not react much on the surface, and their situations were different, Emperor Liu's attitude and handling methods were similar.
The equally desolate endings of the two people also show that they have similarities, but Wang Yansheng's death is relatively rounded and can be easily modified...
If Emperor Liu's reaction to Zhang Yanwei's death was that of a cat crying like a mouse, then when faced with Wang Yansheng's death, surprise, surprise, and sadness took up more elements.
After all, although Emperor Liu was angry with Wang Yansheng's remarks, he really never thought about taking his life and sent people there. He just wanted to beat him up. Of course, this was Emperor Liu's self-righteous idea, but he ignored this move.
The feeling it brings to people.
As Emperor Liu gets older, his heart becomes harder and harder, as hard as stone, but at the same time, he is easily moved under certain circumstances, such as the death of old friends. After all, for Emperor Liu, that is like a
Look at yourself.
If it was a normal death, it would be enough to feel sad. However, Wang Yansheng, a veteran general, died in an "accident", and the direct cause was himself. This also made Emperor Liu unable to accept the matter calmly.
.
Although he didn't know whether it was guilt or self-blame, Emperor Liu was obviously in a very unhappy mood, and there was a sigh of relief in his heart.
"Do you think I killed Wang Yansheng?" After standing in the wind for a long time, Emperor Liu suddenly spoke again and asked Yan Tuo and Wang Jien who were waiting beside him.
Regarding this matter, the two of them knew each other relatively clearly, so Emperor Liu asked his question without any cover-up, but straight from the bottom of his heart. Upon hearing this, the two old enemies glanced at each other subconsciously, and Wang Jien comforted him: "Prince Wang accidentally fell into the water and died. What does it have to do with the official family? Why should we blame ourselves? We also ask the official family to express their condolences. Your body is important!"
Listening to his words, Emperor Liu had no expression on his face, just the same indifference. He raised his hand and called in a cold voice: "Yantuo!"
"The little one is here!" Yan Tuo responded quickly as his body tensed slightly.
Emperor Liu ordered: "From the internal funds, we will pay 50,000 yuan, half of which will be used to supplement the family income of the Pingliang government, and the other half will be used to fund the overseas expansion of the colonial team he organized."
"yes!"
After thinking for a while, Emperor Liu asked: "I have heard to some extent that Wang Yansheng's three sons are all useless. To the point where Wang Yansheng needs to borrow money, I am afraid that the reason for this is that they are prodigal sons. Among the grandchildren, Is there any material for making something?"
After hearing the question, Wang Jien thought for a while and then handed over his hand and said: "As far as I know, among the eight descendants of the Wang family, only the second grandson Zhekai is calm and careful, but he has done so long ago!"
"Wang Zhekai?" Emperor Liu asked, "Whose son is this?"
"Wang Yingjie, the second son of Duke Pingliang!"
"Second son!" Emperor Liu whispered: "How old are you? Where do you live and what is your position now?"
"I am twenty-two years old and have a military rank of 100 generals. I am now guarding the border in Kuozhou for two and a half years!" Wang Jien replied, with a lot of family treasures and a basic understanding of the Wang family's background.
I didn’t ask any more questions about this. If what Wang Jien said was true, then Emperor Liu had already obtained enough information. With the qualities displayed by the Wang family’s descendants, it was only possible to outshine the short ones, and it was not easy to find someone who could see through them. .
"It's a blessing for him. He gave birth to a good son!" After a moment of silence, Emperor Liu sighed softly: "Pass the imperial edict and use Wang Yingjie to attack the title!"
After hearing this edict, the two eunuchs couldn't help but look surprised. Yan Tuo took courage and reminded carefully: "In the official family, the eldest son of Duke Pingliang is Wang Yinghao..."
Hearing this, Emperor Liu turned his head and stared at Yantuo with a strange look. He even took two steps closer and asked, "Don't I know? Do I need you to remind me? Do I need you to review me when I make a decision?"
After asking three times in a row, Yantuo was confused. Faced with Emperor Liu's sinister look, Yantuo couldn't help but trembled and shrank his neck: "You are too talkative!"
"You are so talkative, not just once or twice, nor even every day or two!" Emperor Liu scolded him coldly.
For Yan Tuo, these words were serious. His legs softened and he knelt down, with a panicked look on his face: "Forgive me, the official! Forgive me, the official!"
On the other hand, seeing Yan Tuo's embarrassment, Wang Jien was in a very happy mood, and the corners of his mouth could not help but turn up a little. After Yan Tuo showed his face, Wang Jien saluted Emperor Liu again and said: "Guan family, The Pingliang government borrowed money from foreign countries only in the past two years. This was because the government was extravagant and spent huge amounts of money, unable to make ends meet.
There are roughly two creditors, one is the squire and county magistrate from the ancestral home of Pingliang Gong, and the other is Kang Ning, a wealthy businessman in the capital. According to the investigation, these are all done behind the scenes by the Wang family, and Pingliang Gong didn't know about it at first. Therefore, many villagers and commanders in Jiannan Prefectures have done illegal things by taking advantage of the authority of the government. As for Kangning, no irregularities have been found in the affairs of the Pingliang government.
Before Pingliang Gong's final audience with the officials, he went to Kang Ning to repay his debt with famous horses, jade, and swords. In addition, according to the current investigation, Kang Ning has made friends with powerful people in recent years. In addition to Pingliang Gong's palace, there are many people in the government and the public. All the nobles and nobles borrowed money from him, and so did some officials in the government..."
After hearing Wang Jien's report here, Emperor Liu's attention had already been diverted from Yan Tuo. He was stunned for a while, and then he said in an impatient tone: "Is everything you said true?"
"Yes!" Wang Jien gave an affirmative response.
"There really are surprises waiting for me behind!" Emperor Liu smiled. There was no sadness in his old eyes. Instead, there was a hint of solemnity: "This Kang Ning is really a businessman. He will not change his nature and is still restless. !”
"How much did the Wang family borrow from him?"
"It is said that there are eight thousand strings in total. The exact number still needs to be verified!"
Hearing this, Emperor Liu had a cold expression on his face, thought for a moment, raised his hand, and ordered sternly: "Check! Keep checking for me! Check all the people and things involved in the Pingliang Duke's debt. It's clear, but those who violate laws and disciplines will be severely punished; and Kang Ning, how many powerful people he has debt relationships with, let me know clearly, I would like to see what kind of network of interests he has woven, and how many big men he has. How the powerful have degenerated..."
"Yes!" Faced with Emperor Liu's instructions, Wang Jien felt a rush of heat flow into his heart. This was an opportunity for him to show off his skills.
"Stand back!" After the instruction, Emperor Liu became a little interested and waved his hand.
"Please excuse me, little one!"
The chamberlains and guards were waiting at a distance, leaving enough space for Emperor Liu to be alone. Emperor Liu sat on a stone platform with one leg in his arms, looking at the lake and continuing to be lost in thought. The word "lost" seemed to be written on his old face.
He was still thinking about Wang Yansheng's death. Various signs showed that Wang Yansheng originally planned to commit suicide, but in the end, he chose to jump into the lake and make the illusion of falling into the water. The purpose of this was obviously to make Liu It was easier for the emperor and the court to disguise this matter and cover up the truth.
It is said that Wang Yansheng was rude and domineering, but his delicate mind was often shown at critical moments, before he died, and he could even consider such details. Otherwise, it would be a pleasure to kill himself, but what would be left is a mess with a bit of odor. It's not easy to deal with, and it's not a good thing for future generations. And with Wang Yansheng's actions, the old debts of Pingliang Palace can basically be wiped out.
"I have been galloping on the battlefield all my life, winning more and losing less. This last battle was won even more beautifully. Even I was caught..." Unknowingly, a smile filled the corners of Emperor Liu's mouth.
"I thought it was because of me, but I never thought that there are financial problems in it! There are three unfilial piety, not having children is the worst. However, if they are all prodigal things, it is really better to die. The father of a tiger and the son of a dog will be in trouble for you. This is probably the greatest sorrow!
However, you gave me a wake-up call with your life..." As he murmured to himself, the smile at the corner of Emperor Liu's mouth turned into a cold arc.