The first thousand one hundred and twenty-three pardons and punishments (1)
On the 28th day of the tenth month of winter in the sixth year of De's reign in the Han Dynasty, there was a solemn scene in the Hangao Temple.
Black dragon flags were fluttering high, and solemn and sacred ritual music was played.
"The strong wind is blowing, the clouds are flying, and the sea is coming back home..." A young child's voice sings Liu Bang's favorite song "The Great Wind Song" with a rich local accent.
A series of spiritual flags hang down from the eaves of the temple. On the spiritual flags are written words such as "Five stars come out of the east to benefit China" or "Dragon turns into stars and gathers, snakes divide the sky".
And in the temple, one by one the majestic scholar-officials, dressed in crimson court clothes with long sleeves and good at dancing, danced the dances of Wude, Wenshi, and the Five Elements.
On both sides of the temple, long-lasting candles burned brightly.
At the top of the temple, Emperor Gao, who had just been welcomed back to Chang'an Gaomiao from Changling, was sitting in the sky.
The emperor's twelve beads hang down, his crown is majestic, and his beads are flying.
Taichang Dou Pengzu held a jade talon in his hand and looked solemn. He bowed towards Emperor Gao's robes and bowed respectfully: "In the fifty-eighth year of the Wei-Han Dynasty (actually, the correct record in later history books should be the fifty-third year, because the Western Han Dynasty
The correct start is in 202 BC. However, the rulers and nobles of the Western Han Dynasty did not see it that way. They generally regarded the beginning of Liu Bang's title of King of Han as the beginning of the founding of the Han Dynasty.
I, Taichang Pengzu, worship your Majesty’s spirit: Your Majesty Fu Wei screams for heroes, exerts talents, the clouds are bright, and the spirit is prosperous. He is ordered by the sky to kill the white snake and rise up, to bring order to the troubled times, to calm the world, and to be the Taizu of the Han Dynasty.
, His merits are immeasurable, and his descendants will be protected for generations to come.
Now, with your majesty's blessing, the king's division has been stationed at Gaoque. The three armies of the Xiongnu Jizhu clan have been completely defeated, and all six divisions have been lost.
Your majesty is so powerful that your descendants will live on!
The emperor presents three sacrifices, leads the civil and military ministers, and pays homage to Your Majesty again!
Shang Xiang!"
Dou Pengzu finished reciting the memorial text and then bowed his head.
Liu Che took a step forward, stared at Emperor Gao's clothes, and kowtowed three times.
Beside him, Empress Dowager Dou and Empress Dowager Bo were both paying homage.
Even Ajiao Chen kowtowed three times in a polite manner.
As for the civil and military ministers, everyone knelt down three times and bowed nine times, saying: "The Emperor Fuwei is so powerful that he will preserve the country forever, his merits will flow down the river, he will protect the heaven and the earth, and he will bring blessings to all generations. He will be as bright as the sun and the moon, forever and ever."
endless!"
But in his heart, perhaps the princes of Turret were bleeding.
Not long ago, during the New Year sacrifice, I had just offered a gold offering.
In addition, not long ago, the emperor almost used kidnapping to force many people to subscribe for a batch of national bonds.
But I didn’t expect that I would have to do it again now!
"If this continues, I'm afraid the gold and silver mountains will have to be sacrificed..." Many people cursed.
In fact, now, many princes have understood it.
Today, you just use money to extort money from the nobles!
In the past, gold used for drinking was made into dark vessels and enshrined in Gaomiao, Ancestral Temple, Taizong Temple and Renzong Temple for the ancestors to watch and play with.
Therefore, in fact, the court did not control things strictly, and occasionally used the excuse of spending money to crack down on those ignorant people.
As for other people, it's okay if they have their ideas.
As long as the amount of money offered is about the same, no one will pursue it.
But as soon as I came to power, I started to arrest people for drinking money, and they became more and more strict. Now I am addicted to it.
In the past, the princes could not understand the bitterness of the people in some places paying oral tribute multiple times a year.
Now, they finally feel the suffering of the people and the difficulties of people's livelihood.
This feeling is of course the same as that of those oppressed people: heartache!
But there is no way, now is not the past.
It can be said that the current Han Dynasty regime neither cares about the support of the nobles nor the recognition of the scholar-bureaucrats.
The reason is that examinations and wars are like two rapidly growing monsters, constantly eating away at the old power and interests of these privileged classes.
At the same time, many people within them did not hesitate to turn around and walk into the arms of the emerging academic scholars and emerging military merit interest groups.
A large number of "heroes who know the current affairs" have completely abandoned this decadent and degenerate class.
Today, as the Battle of Gaoque comes to an end, the Han Dynasty has also completed the transition between the old and new privileged classes.
Now, most of the princes kneeling in this temple belong to the outdated old prince family.
They have nothing left in front of the emerging military power interest groups.
Military power, privileges, influence and even connections were all taken away by the emerging military aristocracy.
Therefore, many people know that if they are not smarter, see the situation clearly and recognize the reality clearly.
So……
They will soon be crushed to pieces by the wheels of history!
Besides, although Jinshang swung the knife fiercely, he still followed the Huang Lao School's "Dayan's number fifty, its use is forty-nine", always leaving people with a glimmer of hope and a window.
As long as you change your stance, adapt to the situation, stop being a fool, and stop being a dandy, you can always find a way out and an opportunity.
In fact, even if you are a rice insect, as long as you are not stupid enough to oppose the emperor and just quietly be your own rice insect, nothing will happen.
I am afraid that some idiots and idiots will not only want to be a worm, but also be stupid enough to play tricks in front of my superiors.
He even risked his own life to engage in conspiracy.
In that case, Anpinghou's example will be waiting there.
by the way.
After several years of "careful treatment and care" by the imperial doctors at the Imperial Medical Office, Anping Hou Eji finally died a few days ago.
After the emperor heard the news, he issued an edict to the Shaofu, Dahonglu, Zongzheng and other officials, saying: The Marquis of Anping sent to him is mentally confused, mentally confused, disobedient and rebellious, and he should not have an heir.
Then, Kunxie, Gongsun of Dahonglu, immediately wrote a letter saying: Anping Hou sent him, he is confused and confused, disobedient and rebellious, suffers from many illnesses and loses his mind, this is not the behavior of a Han official, I sincerely consider him to be posthumously named Yihuang!
Liu Jie, Marquis of Qingyang, Zongzheng, also wrote a letter saying: The Marquis of Anping sent him to the hospital because he was sick and mentally ill, and he was disobedient and rebellious. This was not the behavior of a human minister. I sincerely consider him to be posthumously named "Ling".
Even more frightening is the young man Liu She, who suggested that the posthumous title of "Min" should be given to Hou E of Anping.
And whether it is 'Huang', 'Ling', Yang or 'Min', they are not posthumous titles.
The posthumous method says: From the outside to the inside, it is called Huang, and from the outside to the inside, it is called Huang. He is fond of pleasure and neglects politics, which is called Huang. It means that he is a good-for-nothing, without any merit at all, and his soul is rotten to the point of death.
As for Ling, there is no need to explain it. Since ancient times, it has been a common posthumous title for a weak king, a mediocre minister, and a weak official.
And the posthumous title Min is more terrifying than Ling and Huang combined!
As the saying goes, when disaster occurs, it is called Min, and when it makes people sad, it is called Min.
The explanation of the posthumous title is that the country has no government, is prone to chaos, and is harsh in government and harmful to thieves.
At first glance it seems to be just ordinary.
However, you have to look at these comments within the framework of traditional Chinese morals and values.
When you look at it this way, the flavor suddenly becomes rich and endless.
Basically, I am afraid that only the Khmer Rouge and Amin in future generations on earth can enjoy the power of this posthumous title.
Others, including Hitler and Washington, must step aside.
The reason is very simple. Although classical China never recognized that the people are the real masters of the world.
However, both the ideological and academic circles have acquiesced in this setting, but they just did not say it out loud.
From the emperor to the ministers, even if they are really bad and have pus on the soles of their feet, they must still wear the cloak of "benevolence, justice and morality".
Therefore, for three generations, the kings of Dingge have always been under the banner of enforcing justice on behalf of heaven, crusading against injustice, and eradicating tyranny.
Therefore, during the reign of Zong Zhou, the people of the country rioted, the king was fierce, he welcomed the Duke of Zhou, summoned the Duke, and the Republic was in power, which has been praised throughout the ages.
Three thousand years before the French Revolution and the British Revolution, China's ancestors and ancestors had already let the unruly monarchs have a good time!
It is within this historical background and cultural influence that hundreds of schools of thought were born.
In later generations, people usually only look at China under Confucian rule.
At this time, Confucianism was just an ordinary member among hundreds of schools of thought, and was by no means that noble.
Therefore, the posthumous title Min has strong lethality.
Since ancient times, people who have been awarded the posthumous title of Min are just like those who have been awarded Wen, Jing, Zhuang, and Mu, and they are absolutely qualified to be written in the history books.
However, the former will be nailed to the pillar of shame and despised by all generations.
The latter will become a role model and a role model.
Just like the dialogue between Confucius and his disciple Zigong in the Analects of Confucius.
Confucius and Wenzi, what is called Wenzi?
He is quick and eager to learn, and he is not ashamed to ask questions. This is why he is called literary.
Eji, obviously, will become a shame for all eternity.
Even his descendants and relatives may have to remain anonymous because of him.
With the lessons learned from Eji, now, the princes can be said to be trembling with fear, and no one dares to murmur any more.
All we can do is kneel down, grovel, and move forward with the vicissitudes of the times.
Of course, those smart people, or those who are lucky, have already found a bright road.
…………………………
After Liu Che finished his worship, he stood up, looked at the ministers, and said: "The ancestors have merit and the ancestors have virtues. Our ancestors worked hard to get where we are today. We can't wait for a day!"
The ministers bowed again and said, "I sincerely obey your Majesty's teachings!"
Liu Che stood up and said again: "Now that the king has left the fortress, captured Gaoque, and returned to his homeland, I am very happy. His edict is to pardon the prisoners in the world, leave Weiyang Palace, Changle Palace, and the maids and concubines who are over thirty years old and have not given birth.
Reunite with your family! I will also pardon all the prisoners in the world since the rise of the Han Dynasty, and make them all common people! I will pardon all Sikong Chengdan who have committed no crimes, sabotage, and have no fault since I came to the throne! I will pardon all prisoners under the age of fourteen.
Prisoners and evil officials!"
Liu Che hated it very much that there were things like untouchables and untouchables in his country.
Of course, there are no so-called untouchables or untouchables in the Han family today.
Even if the law nominally stipulates and restricts people with municipal registrations similar to those with low-level registrations in later generations, their lives are not too miserable now.
The most unrestrained and generous ones are these guys.
Especially the middle and lower classes, because Liu Che only collected taxes from big merchants and only attacked big merchants.
Therefore, they are now living the happiest life in history, with a huge market, a vast world, and countless ways to make a fortune.
These have allowed a large number of people to gradually shift into industry and commerce.
While Liu Che encouraged the development of industry and commerce, he held back and strictly stipulated the upper limit of land that merchants could own, and severely cracked down on any merchants who exceeded this limit. Of course, you can choose to occupy these lands, but then you have to do this.
bear progressive and heavy taxes.
But now the Han family's unprecedentedly powerful grassroots administrative capabilities can basically prevent merchants from colluding with officials to forcibly occupy land and deceive the country.
Of course, that's not to say there's no such thing, but the price is too high.
It is so big that almost no bureaucrats and businessmen dare to do this.
But, in the final analysis, the Han family is still a feudal society.
Since it is a feudal society, there are classes and social hierarchies.
This is an objective social reality.
The status of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants has never been equal.
However, the advantage of the Chinese-style social and political structure is that the channels for upward and downward flow are smooth.
Even if the later generations of the Southern and Northern Dynasties implemented the so-called nine-level Zhongzheng system, there was still the incident of "in the old days, kings would fly into ordinary people's homes".
As for now, as long as you are willing to work hard, be motivated, and be willing to fight hard, you can rise up on your own and become a prince. There are countless examples of people who started from humble beginnings and eventually entered the court.
However, Sikong Chengdan is not included.
Sikong Chengdan's tragic fate improved slightly after the Battle of Mayi.
But there are still no human rights. It has just changed from a disposable pariah to a salvageable pariah.
But now, after Liu Che's victory in the Battle of Gaoque, he would definitely have the opportunity to grant amnesty to the whole world, giving them complete liberation.
As long as Liu Che takes the throne and has no criminal record and works diligently, all people are within the scope of the pardon.
Their status has since separated from the most miserable and humble Sikong Chengdan, and transformed into common people protected by the law, with dignity and personality.
At the same time, he also had the rights to serve as an official, study, and join the army.
Of course, it is useless to keep those guys who still have criminal records after Liu Che came to the throne, or who did not work hard and reform!
After all, although Sikong Chengdan was very pathetic and pitiful.
But as the saying goes, poor people must be hateful.
In addition to a large number of implicated innocents, the Sikong Chengdan group of the Han Dynasty also had many heinous criminals and hopeless scum.
Such people are not worth wasting tears and energy on.
Liu Che turned around, looked at Liu Bang's clothes, and continued: "Today, I will always remember my filial piety, appreciate the achievements of my ancestors, and pity the old men and women in the world. My edict is to rehabilitate all the old people in the world who are over fifty years old!"
This also belongs to the political correctness of the Han Dynasty.
Respecting the elderly, raising the young, and caring for the orphans and widows are traditions that run through the entire Han Dynasty.
From Liu Bang to the present, the emperors of all dynasties have issued edicts to pardon or reward the elderly, exempting them from taxes and corvees, and giving them wine, meat, cloth, and silk.
But none of them can compare with the big gift package Liu Che is giving out now.
In the Han Dynasty, Fu Tianxia was over fifty years old. This sentence meant that in the Han Dynasty, old people over fifty years old could be exempted from all corvées. In the past, this was usually sixty years old. It was changed to fifty-six during the reign of the late emperor.
Years old, already belongs to the kind of benevolent government that is as powerful as the sky.
But Liu Che now waved his hand and distributed welfare packages again, advancing the retirement age of the people by six years again.
However, this is in line with Liu Che’s political thinking and governing philosophy. If it is beneficial, it must be shared with the whole people.
The benefits gained from the Battle of Gaoque were obviously enough for Liu Che to issue this big gift package.
…
I have to go out to eat later, and the next chapter will probably be after 11 o'clock~
Well, the debt repayment period starts tomorrow~ (To be continued.)
