Chapter 247: Inviting Queen Changsun to 'Principles for Women'
Daming Palace.
In the Zichen Hall, Empress Wu summoned her cronies, including Wei Chengqing, Doulu Qinwang, Miao Shenke and other North Gate scholars.
We are discussing how to make the prince take the blame without shaking the prince's status...
The prince is the crown prince of the country, and he cannot take the blame casually. What's more, this disaster has caused great harm to the people, and it is even more important to leave a mark in the history books.
Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to sit down as the prince if he had this responsibility, because the people would be filled with resentment and the officials would be hard-pressed to accept it.
But this time, all the officials knew the truth very well. The prince was more unjust than anyone else. He was better at guarding against the people than at Sichuan. What was more important than guarding against the officials?
This is very difficult to operate, but Empress Wu has already thought it through: "We in the Tang Dynasty govern the country with filial piety, and the prince fulfills his filial piety and takes responsibility for his crimes. However, the real source of this disaster lies in local incompetence and corrupt officials. You must be aware of it!"
The Tang Dynasty was too filial. Li Shimin was purely filial to Li Yuan, and Li Zhi was purely filial to Li Shimin. Now when it comes to the prince, it is unacceptable to be unfilial.
The key is that the ministers understood that Empress Wu not only wanted to oust the prince, but also tried to deflect conflicts, and even interfered with local officials and arranged for his cronies. They couldn't help but feel happy and worried.
Miao Shenke reminded: "Tianhou, the prince's plan to calm down the disaster is correct. Local county and county officials must be severely punished for failing to help the victims. However, in addition to severe punishment, it is also necessary to prepare sufficient food and grass to alleviate the disaster and stabilize the people's hearts. This requires the cooperation of Webster. "
Wei Chengqing's expression changed slightly, but thinking about Guan Nei's foundation, he stepped forward and said succinctly: "Wester is willing to cooperate fully!"
Empress Wu showed a gentle smile: "We can learn from Minister Wei's loyalty, good!"
Wei Chengqing felt happy that his efforts were finally paying off.
When Webster joins the cabinet and a few more prime ministers are appointed, not only will all the losses from this disaster be replenished, but it will also be able to overwhelm other high-ranking ministers.
He may be able to replace Changsun Wuji's position in the past, and he can be said to be the best in the Guanlong Group.
He glanced at Li Zhi who was sleeping on the imperial wall, lowered his head, and hid his fiery gaze.
Just as the emperor and his ministers were enjoying themselves in the palace, the eunuch Gao ran in at a trot and reported in a low voice.
Empress Wu stood up suddenly, her face turned livid in an instant: "Rebellion! Rebel! How dare they force the palace?"
The courtiers in the palace were shocked. After the official report was made outside the palace, they understood what had happened.
Led by Shangshu's right servant Shedai Zhide, hundreds of officials went outside the imperial city to plead guilty.
The ministers in the palace were stunned at first, and then their faces gradually turned pale.
Miao Shenke was the first to react and said in a trembling voice: "Tian Hou, this matter must not be considered as forcing the emperor to conceive!"
The form of this matter is no different from that of forcing a woman to commit suicide, but since she is asking for the sin and letting the saint do what she wants, there is a lot of room for relaxation.
The key is, what will the person lying on the imperial arm think? Li Zhi cherishes his reputation very much and cares most about how the history books will write about him.
Empress Wu also realized this. She didn't care what the history books said, but she couldn't let Li Zhi get the reputation of being forced into the palace by his ministers.
Her power comes from Li Zhi. Li Zhi cannot die and has more or less time to wake up. What will happen when he wakes up?
"Your Majesty, you have been scolded by all the people and forced into the palace by all the officials!"
Li Zhi jerked it.
Then I never wake up again, and all those things outside are fake and real.
Wei Chengqing was greatly confused when he thought that he was the evildoer mentioned by the officials. He took a step forward and said: "Queen of Heaven, please let His Highness the Crown Prince come forward!"
Empress Wu glanced at him coldly and said decisively: "The ministers are sending a message to King Yong, asking him to come forward to appease the ministers. There must be no mistakes!"
As a prince, he takes care of both the monarch and his ministers.
She wanted the prince to admit his mistake as a king, but now the officials confessed first, and then the prince admitted his mistake, which was also an admission of his mistake as a minister.
In the end, the responsibility must return to her. The prince can still win people's hearts, but he must not do it!
At this moment, the prince has to stay in Shaoyang Courtyard and never even think about leaving!
Wei Chengqing thought for a while before reacting, and immediately stepped back.
Empress Wu acted decisively and issued a decree. King Yong Li Xian accepted the order.
After a long time, the news came: "All the officials have entered the imperial city, and the people have dispersed!"
Soothed for the time being.
Empress Wu was expressionless, and the courtiers in the palace breathed a sigh of relief.
Miao Shenke took a step forward and admonished: "The Queen of Heaven, take advantage of the people's grievances to calm down, release food quickly, stabilize the pass, and appease the people's hearts!"
Empress Wu looked down at her courtiers: "Doulu Qinwang, your family has been living in Chang'an for a long time, how much rice and food can you support?"
Doulu Qinwang was stunned, but Wei Chengqing tried to please him and said, "I, Wei, are loyal to the Queen of Heaven. My family can provide food to help the people of Chang'an."
Webster's power was firmly established in Guan Nei, and there were several mansions in Chang'an City, but they were just ordinary accommodations, with some food stored in them, and they could be released as soon as they were released.
Doulu Qinwang glanced at him sideways, bowed his head and said: "Thank you, Queen Mother, I also have rice and grain in my house, and I would like to provide relief to the people. It's a pity that it's just a drop in the bucket. It's not as big as Wei Shilang's family. In addition to disaster relief, I can do more."
…”
Wei Chengqing frowned and woke up.
The high-ranking gentry were not simply stingy with this disaster relief, but they were unwilling to open the door because they were afraid that the court would ask for more from them.
After all, these aristocratic families occupy too many social resources. If they are allowed to distribute food during disaster relief, if other things happen to the country, will they be further cut off from them?
So Doulu Qinwang bit him to death, and Wei Chengqing regretted it and immediately shut his mouth.
Empress Wu knew very well that she wanted to unite these confidants, so she said calmly: "This matter is not in line with the system, so let's just let it go!"
Doulu Qinwang and Wei Chengqing breathed a sigh of relief and said in unison: "Thank you Tianhou!"
Miao Shenke stopped talking and sighed secretly.
Bachelor Beimen comes from a poor family and is a think tank. He can come up with ideas, but the real power he relies on is these wealthy families. Now he can only stand aside.
But then Empress Wu looked at them: "Do you have any good ideas on how to provide disaster relief?"
Miao Shenke pursed his lips and said in a solemn voice: "Empress Tian, we are incompetent and have no good plan for the time being."
Empress Wu did not comment, paused and said: "Since Dai Pushe is asking for forgiveness, and many officials are attached to him, let's leave the matter to them. Chang'an is short of rice and food, so we can take the people out of the customs to eat to ease the situation!"
The expressions of the officials in the palace changed slightly.
You are not providing disaster relief, but you are still trying to divert conflicts. How many people will die?
Empress Wu hated Dai Zhide deeply. His position was inherently insecure. She could not even think about how he could gain a good reputation in history by causing trouble this time.
If a traitor is causing trouble and does not check the sentiments of the people, who will he criticize?
Empress Wu said again: "There must be a reason for all the officials to plead guilty. The current disaster must be investigated! Doulu Qinwang, as the leader of the inner guard pavilion, I will leave this matter to you!"
Doulu Qinwang knew that she was going to retaliate and complained secretly, but just now Empress Wu refused to let his family have food, so he had to follow up: "Yes, I will try my best!"
Empress Wu said again: "Call the censor Yin Zhongyan. This time the censor made a big mistake. I will give him a chance to make amends!"
As soon as the Plum Blossom Internal Guard came out, the Yushitai has been declining a lot recently. Asking for forgiveness from all the officials is a good excuse for the Yushitai to investigate and eliminate a group of people so that her cronies can replace them.
, those who are disobedient go down and support her and the queen comes up.
Seeing that Empress Wu was showing off her tactics without any confusion, the courtiers in the palace couldn't help but admire her and felt that she was following the right person.
Until the chamberlain who went to report came back to the palace and bowed down with a frightened face: "The Queen of Heaven, Doctor Yin... Doctor Yin can't come..."
Empress Wu narrowed her eyes slightly.
Needless to say, Eunuch Gao immediately dragged the eunuch away, and after careful questioning, his expression changed.
He calmed down and whispered in Empress Wu's ear: "To report to Empress Tian, Shilang Hao went to the Yushitai and took out Empress Wende's "Principles for Women."
…
"Queen Wende is a generous and generous person with boundless moral integrity. She should be a model for future queens!"
"Now that the Wu family is in chaos, how can virtue be the queen's? We should ask the saint for orders to depose the queen of the Wu family!"
In Taichung, the imperial censor, Hao Chujun spread out thirty volumes of books and pointed to the passages above as theoretical basis.
Hao Chujun is the nephew of Prime Minister Xu Yushi, and his niece is Li Bai's first wife.
He was a staunch anti-Tian Hou party and had historically opposed Empress Wu. However, he died early and Empress Wu could not do anything to him. However, later his grandson was accused of treason, and Wu Zetian cut his grandson's body into pieces and also collected the bones of his entire family.
They were excavated, including the bones of Hao Chujun.
You don't need a small notebook to remember every account clearly. If you dare to offend her, don't give her a chance.
Now Hao Chujun is still in good spirits. The prime minister took action, which was extraordinary. Dai Zhide led hundreds of officials to plead guilty and the common people complained, in order to quickly calm down the disaster. Hao Chujun followed closely, pointing to the source of this man-made disaster, and wanted to take the opportunity to abolish the queen.
.
At first, after hearing Hao Chujun's words, Yin Zhongyan and other censors turned pale and pale, and the word Shangguan Yi was written all over their minds. But as they listened, they couldn't help but admire him.
Hao Chujun thoroughly studied "Women's Rules" and even drew inferences from one instance to another.
"Nvzhi" is a private book written by the eldest son of Queen Wende, who collected the gains and losses of ancient women and compiled them into a volume for self-examination.
This is a diary record. After Changsun died of illness, he was dug out by the palace maid. Li Shimin was very sad and made it public to commemorate.
Although Queen Wende gave future generations the impression of being virtuous and gentle, she was by no means the kind of three obediences and four virtues advocated by later generations.
Changsun was also the woman who personally came forward to boost morale for everyone during the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
This was the ethos of women in the Tang Dynasty: they were independent and self-reliant, focusing on their own talents and skills.
Therefore, Changsun's "Principles for Women" roughly records how wives should assist their husbands in a reasonable manner.
Put it in the palace, that is, how the queen assists the king.
Now that's it, let's talk professionally.
Hao Chujun was familiar with "Women's Rules" in order to find theoretical basis from the former empress, and then kill him with one blow based on the current facts.
Some of his ideas coincided with those of Empress Wu. He looked at Yin Zhong and said: "Empress Wu was unethical, greedy for power, and harmed the country. This is the responsibility of Yushitai, and the Meihua Internal Guards also have the tendency to disrupt the imperial court.
I also hope that Dr. Yin will join me in admonishing the saints, so that the cleansing can be cleared up, and the world can be restored to a bright and prosperous world!"
When Yin Zhongyan heard about the plum blossom inner guard, his eyes suddenly sharpened. He looked at the queen's instruction manual in his hand and gritted his teeth: "Okay! Let's go into the palace to face the saint!"