Chapter 1347 The hearts of the people no longer exist
In March of the fifth year of Zhaowu.
Suddenly some news began to spread among the neighbors.
These news were forbidden to be discussed in Yandu in the past, but now the situation inside and outside the court is in chaos, which gives these news space to spread.
Among these news, there is no news about Emperor Zhaowu, most of them are some battle reports about the front line.
Among them, the most circulated battle report is that the Huai'an Army's left army has occupied Hejian, and the Tianjin Three Guards at Tianjin Port are also engaged in a bitter battle.
You know, these two places are only a little over three hundred miles away from Yandu!
At this distance, if the cavalry were to attack for a day and night, they might be able to kill directly to the gates of Yandu City!
In the past, although news about battle reports also circulated in Yandu City, most of them reported good news rather than bad news. Especially the defeat on the front line and some important information would never be circulated in Yandu City.
At this time, in an inconspicuous teahouse in Yandu Hutong, two young people clinked small wine glasses. One of them lowered his voice and said: "No wonder the Spring Festival has been temporarily canceled this year. It turns out that the battlefield ahead has already
It collapsed like this."
"Isn't it?"
The other person must also be rushing to take the exam. Hearing this, he looked around and whispered: "I heard that since the end of last year, many nobles from the upper class have secretly moved out of the capital and moved back to Shengjing outside the customs.
."
"The emperor's cousin, Prince Yu, used to fight eagles and dogs in the capital. He has not been seen for more than half a year. He probably moved back to Shengjing."
"I heard that."
The man looked around and whispered: "I heard that this year, several princes in the emperor's family are also planning to move out of the capital and move to Shengjing."
"ah?"
The other person's expression changed and he said, "Where did this news come from? Is it true?"
"I have also heard rumors, but they may not be unfounded. Now that the front line is like this, the people from Nanchen will surround our capital at any time, so the nobles will naturally not put themselves in danger.
"
"hiss."
Another scholar with a beard couldn't help but said: "The current situation has become like this in a few years. Could it be that..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a loud shout!
"How brave!"
Three or four strong men rushed forward in two steps, grabbed the scholar by the collar, and shouted loudly: "How dare you discuss the current situation and criticize the imperial court!"
"At this critical juncture, you two must be the southerners' masterminds!"
These two Han scholars were grabbed by the necks by several strong men and taken away.
When these strong men like wolves and tigers took the people away, the window of a separate private room on the second floor opened, and several heads poked out. After watching the two scholars being taken away, they shrank back.
He walked back and spit on the ground.
"These bastards arrest people very quickly!"
Someone next to him raised his head and drank, and said in a cold voice: "It's easy to catch people, but it's hard to shut up. It's an indisputable fact that the imperial court is retreating everywhere. The people in the Purity Department have the ability to arrest people in Yandu, but why don't they?
Go to the battlefield and capture the man named Shen and bring him to justice!"
The accents of these people are completely Han, but there is an almost visible arrogance in their words, and they always look at people through their nostrils. It is obvious that these people are the so-called "upper clan" of Northern Qi, that is, Zhu Li Zhenren
.
They don't have many taboos about the imperial court.
Of course, this is because although they themselves are not officials in the court, their families are from aristocratic families, and their elders are mostly in high positions in the court.
Therefore, these people are not too afraid of the Purity Department of the imperial court.
What's more important is that they are young and full of enthusiasm.
Someone reached out and knocked on the table, and said in a muffled voice: "Let me tell you, our master is indeed not a good person to sit in the world. I think back when the late emperor was in power, all the guests from all over the world, even the little emperor in the south, must be right.
The late emperor bowed his head and became his son-in-law obediently."
"How is it like now?"
As soon as he said this, everyone nodded, and some people sighed: "The world has changed. This is the Zhaowu period, not the Yongping period."
The man who spoke was older. He looked at the crowd and said, "Everyone, please stop talking. The emperor is in a bad mood and has a bad temper. Don't cause trouble to the adults in the family."
When everyone heard this, they all frowned and said nothing.
One of the young people who had been silent for a long time suddenly said: "Everyone, my family is going back to Shengjing next month."
Everyone was stunned and turned to look at the young man.
The young man lowered his head to drink and sighed: "Grandpa arranged it, there is nothing we can do about it."
Everyone was silent, and then someone picked up the wine glass.
"drink wine!"
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses and drank it all.
After a glass of wine, no one spoke and the atmosphere became lifeless.
I don't know who it was, but he whispered: "The third prince was already, already..."
"Shut up!"
Someone shouted to stop him, with a serious face: "Don't bring trouble to the family!"
This man was not afraid, he still looked at everyone and said in a low voice: "Master is not the material for the head of the family, why don't you let the Xu family speak?"
"I heard that the Eighth Prince is very talented and has studied military science since he was a child..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the private room was kicked open. A middle-aged man with a beard looked at everyone with his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes.
"Who is here to confuse people with their lies?"
After that, the middle-aged man waved his hand and shouted: "Take them all away!"
So these Zhu Li masters were also taken away, but they were not afraid. Before leaving, they looked at the middle-aged man from the Purification Department. Several of them were filled with indignation and cursed: "You running dogs, how dare you take this
Laozi!"
"I have said some fair words for the court, but now I won't even let you say them!"
The middle-aged man had a cold face and shouted: "Take it away!"
So there was a lot of excitement in the tavern.
…………
At night, in the Xiude Hall, Fu Tai, the current chief of the Purity Department, knelt respectfully in front of Emperor Zhaowu and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, for those people in the capital who are deceiving the public and talking nonsense, the Purity Department has joined forces with the Jingzhao Mansion.
We arrested them all and put them all in prison."
Emperor Zhaowu was currently reading a memorial that he didn't know where it came from. After hearing this, he put down the book and looked at Fu Tai who was kneeling on the ground, expressionless: "How many people were arrested?"
Fu Tai kowtowed and said, "There are more than five hundred people in total."
"Some of them are making arrogant comments about government affairs, and their crimes are not serious. Others are criticizing the emperor's affairs when he first came to the throne, and are slandering the emperor."
Emperor Zhaowu squinted his eyes, expressionless, but his face was full of gloom: "They said that I usurped the position of King Qi, right?"
Fu Tai knelt on the ground, too scared to speak.
Emperor Zhaowu was furious: "Who are these people who said this!"
Fu Tai lowered his head and said in a trembling voice: "When you return to the emperor, almost all of them are Zhu Li Zhenren. The Han people don't dare to be so bold..."
Emperor Zhaowu's face turned red with anger, and he hammered the table: "Hide evil intentions, harbor evil intentions!"
"Yes Yes."
Fu Tai lowered his head and kowtowed: "It must be someone from the south who is maliciously spreading rumors in the capital. I have sent people to investigate this matter in detail, but..."
He paused and continued: "However, the southerners are cunning and will not spread the news in person. For these people who have been caught now, the news has been spread through their mouths. I don't know how many times they have spread it."
He knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask you how to deal with them."
"All Han people will be exiled! Master Zhu Li..."
When Emperor Zhaowu said this, his face became uglier, and he immediately vetoed the decision just now, and said in a low voice: "Keep him locked up for now, don't let anyone out, and when we find out what happened, we will post a notice and inform both inside and outside the capital!
"
Fu Tai knelt down and kowtowed: "Yes, I obey."
The emperor waved his hand: "Just go down."
He paused and rubbed his eyebrows: "Go and call General Lang."
"yes."
Not long after, Lang Yan arrived at the Xiude Hall. He first looked at his pale nephew, and then lowered his head and saluted: "Your Majesty, Lang Yan, is here to greet you."
"Get up, get up."
Lang Yan stood up and said thanks.
The emperor's voice was hoarse: "Rumors are spreading in the capital and people are panicking. What do you think, uncle?"
Lang Yan clenched his fists and said, "It must be the southerners' fault!"
Emperor Zhaowu shook his head: "Nan Chen must have done some tricks, but more likely, that's what they thought in their own hearts."
Emperor Zhaowu's face was pale. He looked at Lang Yan and his voice was firm.