In the West Garden, Emperor Liu Hong was taking a bath in the Fragrant Canal. The canal water with the scent of rouge and incense hit him, making Liu Hong feel particularly comfortable.
Liu Hong, who was immersed in beauty and luxurious enjoyment, was extremely relaxed at this moment. Only here could his tense heart find peace.
Building the civil engineering work of the West Garden consumes national power and building a swimming pool. Doesn’t Liu Hong know that this will consume national wealth? Won’t it consume national power? Selling his official position in the West Garden, Liu Hong doesn’t know that he will be reviled by the world and accused of being stupid by the world.
?
Liu Hong is not a dull person, he understands everything and understands everything.
But he had no choice but to do something.
If Xiyuan sells his official position, the money will not reach the hands of the emperor. In the end, it will only be taken by his aristocratic family members. In short, it will either be given to the emperor or to the court ministers and elders. It cannot be saved.
In Liu Hong's mind, this is not a search, but another tenacious confrontation between him and the Han family. It's hard to get power, so why should he ask for money?
He thought that life was difficult for him as the emperor. After ten years of hard work, he was exhausted mentally and physically, but in the end he was still unable to do what he wanted.
Even though the Three Mutual Laws and the Party's imprisonment came together to tie up the hands and feet of the scholars and greatly reduce the power of the powerful ministers in the court, Liu Hong knew in his heart that his extreme behavior would not be sustainable for a long time.
Moreover, this is a style of play that injures the enemy a thousand times and damages oneself eight hundred, and will not last until the end.
As long as there are nobles and nobles in this world, the party system will be broken sooner or later, and the Three Mutual Laws will also be weakened as time goes by.
He could not kill all the scholars in the world, let alone destroy the aristocratic families who stood above the scholars, because the Han Dynasty was actually the foundation of them, and without them, the empire would not be able to function.
It's really ridiculous. Those who threaten the imperial power the most are these people... But without them, where would the imperial power be in this world?
Liu Hong couldn't destroy the clan and the noble clan, even if he could destroy him, he couldn't, because the birth of imperial power was closely related to this group of people. If there were no scholars in the country, where would the royal family come from?
The imperial power, scholars, officials, and eunuchs disturbed Liu Hong almost every day.
Since ancient times, if imperial power wanted to expand, it generally required the help of eunuchs, because eunuchs are the closest people to every emperor, which includes family affection and dependence.
The same is true for Liu Hong. He ascended the throne at the age of twelve and had no one to rely on. He knew in his heart that the eunuchs, like the ministers and relatives, were also using him for their own personal gain. But at least the personal gain that the eunuchs sought was Liu Hong's subconscious mind.
Acceptable.
Liu Hong knew to some extent how hateful Cao Jie, Wang Fu, and Zhang Rang were and how poor their reputation among the people was, but Liu Hong did not hate them.
Because at most they can only harm the common people, but cannot harm the imperial power.
The magistrates control the officials, and the scholars control public opinion. No matter how high your reputation among the people is, what's the use of being loved by others? They influence my actions all the time and want to snatch my power to govern the country!
It’s impossible to guard against it.
Liu Hong was tired. Only in this extravagant West Garden could he feel relaxed and forget the depression in his heart. More than ten years of depression almost drove him crazy. Only under the influence of the beauty and beauty of the West Garden could he relax.
Reluctantly forgetting those 'world affairs' that caused him pain!
Liu Hong was lying in the fragrant canal, with all these things running through his mind, letting the naked Ayame next to him rub his back and wash his body...
Suddenly, a eunuch hurriedly came behind him.
The eunuch was not too young. He knelt down a foot away from Liu Hong, bowed to Liu Hong on the ground, and shouted: "I see you, Your Majesty!"
Liu Hong, who had been closing his eyes just now, frowned for a moment, with a slightly troubled look on his face.
To be honest, Liu Hong liked eunuchs, especially Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong. One he called his father and the other his mother.
Ever since he entered the palace at the age of twelve, he has been favored by the eunuchs. Let alone eunuchs, even a person who has been favored by a dog since he was a child probably still has true feelings for dogs.
But the eunuch kneeling behind him at this moment was an exception.
This official was called Lu Qiang, and like Zhang Rang and others, he also held the position of regular attendant.
To be honest, Lu Qiang was a special case among the eunuchs. He would sometimes be greedy for small fortunes and seek petty selfishness. But unlike Zhang Rang, Cao Jie, Wang Fu and others, he always kept a certain thought in his heart.
loyalty to the court.
I don’t know what Lu Qiang thinks, but he seems to be very eager to become a clear leader among eunuchs.
Just when Cao Jie, Zhang Rang and others were persuading Liu Hong to add titles to the eunuchs, Lu Qiang was forcefully resigning from the position of marquis, feeling that his virtue was not worthy of the title.
When Cao Jie, Zhang Rang, Wang Fu and others were recruiting beauties for Liu Hong to enter the palace for Liu Hong's enjoyment, Lu Qiang told Liu Hong that the cost of food and clothing in the harem was huge, and the people were unable to cultivate it.
If there is hunger in the fields and households, it is better to exercise some restraint.
And even when Liu Hong launched a campaign to imprison party members and imprisoned party members and officials, Lu Qiang also came to remonstrate with him, saying that party members were imprisoned, corrupt officials were increasing among the people, and there were many rebels in the counties, so they should be pardoned gradually.
Party members, in order to ease conflicts, first focus on pacifying the chaos in all counties in the world.
In short, this Lu Qiang is a strange person among eunuchs, and at the same time he is also a breath of fresh air in the evil trend.
But it is a pity that he is the most annoying eunuch to Liu Hong.
He is not as discerning as Cao Jie, Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang and others. Liu Hong doesn't like to hear what he says, even if Liu Hong knows that what he says is good.
In short, Liu Hong just felt that Lu Qiang was nagging and annoying. If he hadn't been an old man next to him, Liu Hong would have kicked Lu Qiang out of the palace long ago.
"You're here? What's the matter?" Liu Hong rolled his eyes slightly and said impatiently.
Lu Qiang's face showed a hint of helplessness: "Your Majesty doesn't want me to come? Are you annoying me?"
Liu Hong sighed and stood up naked from the water. Seeing this, Ayame next to him quickly dried Liu Hong's body and put on his clothes.
He slowly turned around and said to Lu Qiang: "You said you don't bother people? Ah? Who among the palace servants doesn't know that I don't like to be disturbed when I am taking a bath, but you, you always rush
At this moment, come over and report this and that to me! Tell me, did you do it on purpose? Ah? I just want to ask you, yes?"
Lu Qiang raised his head cautiously, looked at Liu Hong and said aggrievedly: "I am not deliberately annoying Your Majesty, but I do have something important to report!"
"Okay, every time you have something important to do, why don't Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong have as much to do as you? Tell me, what's the matter!"
"Your Majesty, Cao Poshi, the captain of the Yue Cavalry School, intercepted Xiaolian of Zhuo County at Zuo Zhonglang's Office. There was a quarrel between the two parties. Cao Poshi was so ashamed and angry that he took action against Xiaolian. Now it is an urgent matter!"
Liu Hong, who was dangling in his coat at the moment, was stunned when he heard this.
After a while, Liu Hong slowly turned his head to look at Lu Qiang, his face seemed a little embarrassed.
"What did you say? Cao Poshi went to the door of Zuo Zhonglang's office to stop Xiaolian, but he still took action?"
"yes!"
Liu Hong took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress the anger in his heart.
"Can't you save me some time? He, a Yueqi captain, went to stop Xiao Lianlang who was entering Beijing. Didn't he hit those people's hands? Did he think his neck was too stiff?"
After more than ten years in power, although Liu Hong was an average emperor, his power and balancing skills were not inferior to those of Yuan Wei, Yang Ci and other clan leaders.
Just hearing about this matter, Liu Hong felt something fishy, and he also felt that the Cao family might be in danger.
Cao Jiegang died not long ago. At this time, the Cao family should keep a low profile, so that Liu Hong could protect them.
But none of them live up to expectations!
Thinking of this, Liu Hong took a deep breath, then turned around suddenly and kicked over a copper basin next to him.
The Aya girls surrounding him all turned pale with fear and hurriedly knelt down on the ground.
"Cao Qing has just died a few days ago, and the people he left behind started to cause trouble for me... You quickly go to Zhang Rang and ask him to call Cao Poshi for me. In addition, the news must be blocked. This must not be done.
If the blame falls into the hands of those people, go away!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Qiang didn't move.
Liu Hong frowned: "What?"
Lu Qiang shook his head helplessly and said: "Your Majesty, it's too late. There was a fight just now in front of Zuo Zhonglang's office, and the matter spread quickly. Many of the officials in the Lang's office came to watch.
He directly helped Zhuojun Xiaolian fight Cao Poshi, but he kept making noises about this matter. Now this matter is getting bigger and bigger, and even people from the Imperial Academy have begun to go out to the past together!"
Liu Hong's mind changed slightly, and he quickly felt that something was wrong.
No matter how arrogant and domineering Cao Poshi was, how could a mere fight alarm so many officials and imperial students in the capital?
When I was young, I heard Liu Hong speak slowly: "In the Han Dynasty, there were more than 10,000 filial and honest officials in Beijing. Why did this Xiaolian from Zhuo County attract so much attention? That Xiaolian who was beaten by Cao Poshi,
What’s your name?”
"Your Majesty, his name is Liu Jian."
"Liu Jian..."
Liu Hong stood outside the Xiang Canal, stomping back and forth with his bare feet, as if recalling: "It sounds familiar."
"Your Majesty, this is the person who beheaded Helian."
"Oh, yes, yes!"
Liu Hong gently hammered his forehead: "Is it him, is he, Lu Qing's disciple?"
"Yes! Your Majesty, before entering the capital, this person once wrote a poem called "The Song of the Common People in the Cold Land", which was widely praised among the men in the capital."
Speaking of this, Lu Qiang gave a helpless smile and said: "This is specifically for the old slave and other servants of His Majesty."
Liu Hong said calmly: "I have read that poem."
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"Haha, what the heck, it's just a tactic used by scholars to increase their reputation by scolding you. Over the years, in Luoyang City, whether they are scholars or imperial students, they have written poems and gathered to scold you.
Are there still few people? One more person is not more, and one less person is not a lot."
Lu Qiang asked curiously: "This person wrote lyrics to insult old slaves and other servants of His Majesty. Your Majesty is not angry?"
"It's a joke, he didn't scold me, so why should I be angry? There are so many people scolding you in this big man's world. If I were angry one by one, how could I survive till now! You deserve your disapproval!"
When he said this, Liu Hong narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky.
"It doesn't matter if you curse a few words. In this world, if a person from a Li Shu family wants to get ahead, he will eventually have to shock everyone with his words... But the key is whether he can be used by me. No matter how harsh he scolds, there will still be Yang Qiu scolding him."
Does it hurt?"
Lu Qiang couldn't help but fell silent after hearing this.
He understood the meaning of Liu Hong's words in his heart.
Eunuchs were an extension of imperial power, but from another perspective, eunuchs were also a shield for imperial power.
Some evil deeds that the emperor could not do in his own right had to be done by the eunuchs, and the eunuchs would have to shoulder the blame later on.
For example, Yang Qiu, a cruel official, usually opposed the eunuchs. He was the happiest person who clamored to kill the eunuchs all day long. He was also the happiest person when he scolded the eunuchs for causing chaos in the government. Wang Fu, Cao Jie and others hated him to the point of itch, but Liu
Is Hong taking it seriously?
I don’t take it seriously at all, and I really like it!
Because at the critical moment, the Yang Ball can become Liu Hong's knife and get rid of those who are an eyesore for the emperor.
As for eunuchs, they were also the swords in the emperor's hands, used to deal with party members and nobles.
The emperor never worried about the people below scolding and biting each other, let alone the collision of knives!
He only looks at whether this person can be his sword, that's the key.
If I could become a sword in the emperor's hand, I wouldn't be happy if you didn't scold me.
There is a saying in later generations that Lu Qiang doesn’t know, but if he knew it, he would definitely feel the same way.
Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger.
…
Liu Hong muttered in a low voice: "This Liu Jian has risen very rapidly in recent years."
"Yes, from the time when He Lian was killed in Northern Xinjiang until he entered Beijing, this person has had a smooth journey."
"I understand. They took advantage of the great minister from Northern Xinjiang before he entered the capital and used him to make me a medicine. They wanted to use some strong medicine on the Cao family. Haha, it's still the same way, over and over again every year.
We are all using it, so why don’t we have something new?”
"That's why I came here to inform Your Majesty, and hurry up and get ready. I'm afraid it won't be long before those people come to see you..."
"His Majesty!"
Suddenly, another eunuch was seen hurriedly coming from a distance and bowed to Liu Hongchang: "Your Majesty, Situ Chen Dan, Shangshu Lu Zhi, Taishi Ling Shan Yang, Shesheng Colonel Ma Rixi, Zuo Zhonglang Han.
Say, Yilang Cao Cao, Yilang Tao Qian..."
"Okay, okay."
Liu Hong waved his hand impatiently and said, "They came so quickly. Tell me, how many people came?"
"Twenty-eight people."
"Haha, it's such a grand event, this is a reminder that I can't miss it."
Lu Qiang hesitated and said: "Your Majesty?"
But Liu Hong waved his hand and said: "Change clothes! I'm going to meet these powerful ministers."
…
When he was young, Liu Hong came out of the swimming pool and came to the Xiyuan Convocation Hall, where a group of ministers came to see him.
All the ministers entered the palace and paid homage to Liu Hong.
Later, I heard Situ Chen Dan say: "Your Majesty, Cao Paishi, the captain of the Yue Cavalry School, stabbed Xiaolian, who had just entered the capital, in front of the Lang's office. The matter is of great importance. I dare not delay. Come and report to your majesty as soon as possible!"
"
Liu Hong looked at him with a half-smile: "A straight stab? Isn't it a beating?"
"Your Majesty knows about this?"
Liu Hong nodded and sighed: "This matter happened at most half an hour ago. The ministers were able to learn about it in such a short time, gathered here, and gained the trust so quickly. How could I fall behind?
After you? Make all your officials more beautiful than before me?"
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other. Some people sighed, while others frowned slightly.
In this case, including Liu Hong, everyone is a thousand-year-old fox, and everyone knows roughly everyone's tricks.
It's not just once or twice, they are very familiar with each other's routines.
"Your Majesty, it was not a beating, but an assassination. It is said that Cao Poshi had drawn his sword in front of the doctor's office. All the hundreds of doctors present can testify to this. There is absolutely no mistake!"
Liu Hong grinned and sighed: "More than a hundred officials testified? Alas, it reminds me of the grievance complaint after Chunyue. If you think about it carefully, that situation is so similar to today, right, Chen Qing
?”
Chen Dan said hurriedly: "I don't know what your Majesty said."
Liu Hong's face suddenly sank.
In the first month of this year, the Han army defeated Xianbei in northern Xinjiang, killed Helian and captured the body of Tan Shihuai. This was all because Liu Hongli, against all opinions beforehand, wholeheartedly adopted the policy of the governors of Bingzhou and Youzhou in the northern expedition to Xianbei, which led to this great victory.
For a time, Liu Hong's imperial authority skyrocketed.
Liu Hong struck while the iron was hot and was a little eager for quick success again.
He ordered the ministers to report to the governor, and the county governor was corrupt and harmed the people. To put it bluntly, he wanted to find an excuse to replace the county governor with a group of disciples of aristocratic families, and then find a way to install a group of his own people.
Of course, the emperor gave the order, and he could not directly participate in who should be removed or replaced.
Therefore, this matter must still be entrusted to the eunuch.
Liu Hong instructed Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others to instruct Taiwei Xu Qu and Sikong Zhang Ji to remove a group of local aristocratic confidants and reorganize the local layout.
As for why the eunuch was asked to give instructions to these two people, it was very simple, because these two people were also the emperor's people.
Sikong Zhang Ji was Liu Hong's Confucian teacher in the palace after he ascended the throne. He was a proper teacher of the emperor. Without the emperor's instructions, how could the eunuch command him?
Therefore, the eunuchs joined forces with the emperor's teachers to report twenty-six corrupt officials, governors and county governors, intending to capture them all.
The problem is that these people are all the confidants of noble families in the court. How can you allow your emperor to instruct the eunuchs to change them at will?
Then, an extremely strange scene occurred in Luoyang City.
People from various counties came to the capital to complain and appeal, saying that what the imperial court had discovered was untrue and wanted to vindicate the twenty-six officials.
At the same time, Sikong Chen Dan, Yilang Cao Cao, impeachment officer Xu Kuan, Sikong Zhang Ji and others were all motivated by party selfishness, which was "letting go the owl and imprisoning the phoenix".
But just think about it, in today's Han Dynasty, where are the officials who are not corrupt? Where are the officials who are not violent? Where is there a clean place in the world?
Not to mention these twenty-six people, all the county guards and governors in the entire Han Dynasty were listed together, and none of them was clean.
The local tycoons are busy annexing the land, and the annexed common people are living in hardship and precarity... Whose common people and tycoons have their heads cramped and go to the capital to cry out for the injustice of these twenty-six people?
Yi Que complained of grievances... When did the people of the Han Dynasty change to love officials so much, and they just loved these twenty-six?
How much power must be operating behind the scenes to have so many people come to Luoyang to petition and have such a festive effect.
This is not a cry of injustice from the people, it is clearly a slap in the face of the emperor.
Fortunately, when Chen Dan impeached Xu Kuan and Zhang Ji, he saved Liu Hong's face and only said that they were in cahoots with the eunuchs.
But everyone with a discerning eye knows clearly that the eunuch did it? Bah!
Haha, can the eunuchs collude with Liu Hong's teacher to give Liu Hong eye drops?
In the end, the court officials' "cry of injustice and brutal attack" once again forced Liu Hong to give in.
Just as he had given up on Yang Qiu, he once again compromised and admitted defeat, gave up Xu Kuan and Zhang Ji, and worshiped all those who had been wronged and imprisoned as Yilang.
What is the position of the 600-shi Yilang? It is the reserve post for important officials of the imperial court.
People in this position will be filled at any time.
Just like this time, when Tao Qian, the governor of Youzhou, took office, he became Ren Yilang after arriving in Beijing. He would wait for the next big vacancy to become available and then take office.
In addition, Liu Hong's teacher Zhang Ji and his confidant Xu Qu were also laid off due to this incident.
The position of Taiwei was given to Yang Ci, and the position of Situ was given to Chen Dan, the head of a family of high officials and the first person to remonstrate with him in this incident.
As for the twenty-six vacant positions, Liu Hong did not reach out again, but re-appointed them through the procedures of the Chancellor's Desk, filling them again with the disciples and former officials of the ministers.
Of course, Liu Hong's hard work was not in vain. At least he received the money after changing officials.
Six months later, Liu Hong was still feeling the shame of that incident, so these people were ready to strike again.
Their target this time is the Cao family.
Cao Jie is dead, and the ministers of the court hate him very much. For the direct descendants of the Cao family who have lost the support of Cao Jie, the ministers of the family and the Manchu scholars will not let go!
When it comes to beating a drowned dog, they always grasp the opportunity perfectly.
In fact, with Liu Hong's current emperor's character, he naturally knows that Cao Jie is dead, and there is no point in preserving his remaining direct descendants. Let's abandon them and find new sharp swords. People like Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong can still continue.
Used!
But thinking about it carefully, Liu Hong couldn't bear to think that the person who welcomed him into the palace was Cao Jie. He was still young and had to attack his relatives.
Again, these eunuchs are like relatives in his heart, much closer than these annoying ministers.
The emperor wanted to work hard to save Cao Jie's family.
"My lords, from my point of view, this matter is not a direct attack. After all, it is just a minor incident of a fight in the market, and a slight punishment is enough. Why bother to put aside your state affairs and come here to see me?"
Suddenly, a voice said: "Your Majesty, the officials in the court prevented Xiaolian from entering the capital and beat him in the street. This is not a trivial matter. It concerns the face of the Tian family and the integrity of the court. Moreover, the Xiaolian who was beaten made a great contribution to defeating Hu You in the north.
This person! This matter must be investigated. I think that Cao Paishi should be captured immediately and handed over to the Tingwei for careful interrogation. There is no way that there is someone behind the scenes!"
Liu Hong turned around and saw that it was Yilang Cao Cao.
He took a deep breath, it was him again!
This man is willing to be a pawn for the second generation of the Yuan family!
Liu Hong closed his eyes, thought for a long time, and then asked: "Where is the person who committed the crime?"
Zuo Zhonglang Han said: "Reporting to your majesty, I have ordered them to be sent to the court captain for interrogation. However, after obtaining the transcripts, we and others will be able to provide justice."
"Haha, all my dear friends are standing in front of me. What's the point of discussing this? Send an order to Tingwei's Mansion to release people and send them all here. Let me see how Cao Poshi hurts Xiaolian.
What’s going on! It’s so annoying for all the father-in-laws that I have to investigate the Cao family to the end!”