For Chao Cuo, on this issue, there is no need to think through the brain at all. He can come to the conclusion just by looking at his butt: kill, kill, kill!
the reason is simple.
He is a Legalist, and his Legalist consciousness determines him. It is basically impossible for him to have any affection for those bureaucrats in the inner history.
even……
The entire Legalist community, including Chao Cuo, might be applauding now!
In the past, Neishi Yamen has been controlled by the Huang Lao faction and its allies, the powerful and nobles in Guanzhong.
As a rising star, Legalism has always been difficult to penetrate and master - even when Chao Cuo was the internal historian, he could only do some work that was mixed with sand.
But the controllers of the bureaucracy in Chang'an and Guanzhong have always been the Huang-Lao faction and their allies.
Today, there is such a big turmoil.
The control and mastery of Chang'an by Huang Lao's party will definitely collapse!
For Legalists, this is simply a matter of great joy.
Likewise, Confucianism sees it this way.
Even this time, some people from Confucianism and Legalism will be affected.
But in comparison, the losses suffered by the Huang-Lao faction will be greater and more severe.
At least, in Chang'an City, the power belonging to the Huang Lao Sect is estimated to be out of ten!
This is the biggest benefit!
From now on, Confucianism and Legalism will have the same status as the Huang-Lao Sect in Chang'an City and the sacred capital of the world!
Just for this reason, it was enough for Chao Cuo and the entire Legalist family to sell their livers and kidneys to support Liu Che and cleanse Chang'an officialdom.
For the same reason, the various factions of Confucianism probably have the same mood.
Especially those university elites who came from Kanto, I am afraid that they are all celebrating now.
They waited sixty years for an opportunity to counterattack.
Then what……
Chao Cuo is now a censor, not a prince, not even a prince in Guannei.
Last year, he was awarded the title of 'Jianping Lord' because of his meritorious service, and his title was no more than Zuo Shu Zhang.
This means that there is not much time left for him.
Before next year, before Zhou Yafu takes office, he must try his best to make himself a prince.
By any means!
He must become a prince!
Only in this way can he have a chance to become prime minister!
And if you want to become a marquis, apart from military merit, the only way is to kill someone!
Moreover, many people must be killed so that everyone in the world knows that Chao Cuo is indeed a selfless minister who loves the people like a son.
In this way, he had the opportunity to obtain the title of marquis before Zhou Yafu took office.
Only princes are qualified to worship the prime minister!
Therefore, whether it is public or private, Chao Cuo will definitely support Liu Che.
For the same reason, most Legalist and Confucian bureaucrats would also support Liu Che.
As long as they still have a little bit of gumption and political ambition, this choice will not change.
No matter how much they dislike Liu Che's ruthless purge of bureaucrats, their butt and will will encourage them to follow Liu Che's baton involuntarily.
The reason is simple.
If we don't get rid of these bureaucrats in Chang'an City, how can they have the opportunity to take charge of Chang'an and influence the world through Chang'an?
As for the Huang Lao faction, the old bureaucrats and the old aristocrats who were hurt and lost in this process?
The new rich are too lazy to care about their life and death!
At least for now!
Liu Che naturally knew what to do.
He said to Chao Cuo: "What you said is true! The trial and evidence search related to this matter are entrusted to my beloved! You must not let anyone be wronged, let alone let anyone escape punishment!"
"I have told the world over and over again: I am the king of the world and I am the father and mother of the people! The people cannot be bullied! But there are some people who are determined to provoke me. No wonder I am, and no wonder the national law is ruthless!"
This is actually telling Zhou Yafu and Chao Cuo that this matter, as the emperor, is completely reasonable, beneficial and orderly.
I have told the people below again and again - don't seek death.
But they decided to seek death.
I am also in a dilemma!
This also blocks the way for some people to escape sanctions by using the excuse of "first offense" or "ignorance".
The emperor has taught and made clear his policies many times. You officials, you still don’t know how to repent and wake up. Who is to blame for the current situation?
You must have yourselves to blame!
Do you really think the emperor is joking with you?
"No!" Zhou Yafu reluctantly bowed his head and obeyed.
But Chao Cuo was in high spirits.
For Chao Cuo, this incident was not only his personal political demands and the interests of the school, but also a great opportunity for him to settle his past grudges!
I think back then, he worked so hard to defeat Yuan An and lose his official position.
But it was the bureaucrats, aristocrats, powerful scholar-bureaucrats in Chang'an City who tried every possible means to protect and praise Yuan Ang that allowed Yuan Ang to come back again, and he was even almost overturned by Yuan Ang!
Over the years, every time he thought of these things, he felt resentful in his heart.
Therefore, over the years, whenever any nobles or scholar-bureaucrats from Chang'an committed crimes, they fell into his hands.
He will not give any face or affection.
……………………
However, things in the Han Dynasty were never so simple.
Liu Che had just convinced Zhou Yafu and Chao Cuo to arrange the court's decisions.
But then the Changqiu Li family of Changle Palace came to invite him to a banquet in the East Palace on the order of the Empress Dowager Dou.
It was said to be a family dinner, but in fact, Liu Che knew very well that Empress Dowager Dou was coming to intercede!
This is normal. In the past few decades, Weiyang Palace and Changle Palace have been performing double acts.
To put it simply, one is the white face and the other is the red face.
Every time the emperor had just punished a minister/lord, but soon after, Changle Palace would jump out to appease and comfort the minister/lord.
Just like back then, when Jianghou Zhou Bo was imprisoned, the late Empress Dowager Bo tried her best to lobby and plead for mercy, which saved Zhou Bo from his misfortune.
Now that such a big thing has happened, the two queen mothers in Changle Palace will definitely not stand by and watch.
Because these are the rules of the game.
It was also a way to give the emperor a step down.
Otherwise, if the emperor is playing and feels that it is a bit too much, but can't find the step down, he can only bite the bullet and continue playing, how embarrassing would it be?
With Changle Palace interceding and buffering, it would be much better.
If the emperor feels regretful, he can use this step to follow the donkey downhill.
By the way, I can also tell the world: I originally wanted to investigate thoroughly and never tolerate it! But the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager insisted on it. I took filial piety as my consideration and kept an open mind.
In this way, the matter was successfully resolved.
But in this matter now, Liu Che doesn't need Donggong to be the popular one.
However, I have to go to the East Palace once.
In any case, this is an attitude and a signal.
……………………
At this time, the turmoil and situation in Chang'an City finally reached a climax.
Tingwei's prison was so overcrowded that he had to ask Zhijinwu to free up the four prisons in the Duchuan Yamen to facilitate the detention of criminals.
By this afternoon, more than 2,000 bureaucrats, nobles, knights, and merchants had been arrested!
The remaining people are also panic-stricken and unable to control themselves.
Even in Weiyang Palace and Changle Palace, everyone is in danger.
After all, who knows whether this storm will affect us?
Who in the whole city of Chang'an has not been greedy? Who has not taken it?
The only thing that is reassuring is that so far, the officers of the court, the censors, and the army have been arresting those officials who were at the mercy of the common people during the transformation of Chang'an, and who had people reporting and complaining.
As for other systems, everything is fine.
This makes people feel a little more at ease.
Otherwise, even the eunuchs in the palace may not be able to sleep!
However, it is inevitable that the rabbit will die and the fox will be sad.
Shaofu, Zongzheng, Taichang and many of the officials who held Jinwu watched as their former colleagues, friends, relatives and even clan members were arrested one by one and put into the prisons of Tingwei and Zhijinwu.
Everyone was panicked, and many people immediately started running.
If you have connections, find relationships; if you don't have connections, find connections.
No one wants to sit still and wait for death.
Everyone is worried that today the emperor can clean up the internal affairs without mercy.
Then tomorrow, will the target of this attack be aimed at myself?
What's more, who of the arrested people is not a friend, relative, or even close relative of these people?
At this time, news came from the palace: the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager invited the Emperor to come to the East Palace for a drink.
Countless people cried with joy and kowtowed towards the East Palace.
For decades, the East Palace has been the mediator between the Weiyang Palace and the ministers.
From Emperor Gao to the present day, the East Palace has saved the futures, fortunes and lives of countless officials and nobles!
Now, everyone's hope lies in the East Palace.
Everyone burned incense and prayed in the hope that the Eastern Palace could persuade the emperor to be a little tolerant and make concessions.
This board can be lifted high and then lowered gently.
The maximum penalty is three drinks. Wouldn't it be good if we don't do it next time?
However, these people never imagined that at this time, a powerful hurricane was already brewing in the major military camps around Chang'an.
…………………………
The Thorny Gate Army has always been stationed at Thorny Gate, which is the Weihe River area outside Chang'an City.
This army, through heroic fighting in the Battle of Gaoque, finally avenged its shame and got rid of its stigma.
You know, in the past, Thorny Gate Army and Xiliu Camp were in contrast.
People often compare the Xiliu Camp to the elite with strict military discipline, while the Thornymen Army has become a synonym for the rabble.
But in the battle of Gaoque, the soldiers of the Thorny Sect Army used their lives and blood to tell the world that they were not a rabble.
From this, the soldiers of Thorny Sect Army can finally feel proud.
Even if you go out, you no longer need to cover up.
Han Yong, the current captain of the Thorny Gate Army, was sitting in the commander's tent at the moment, looking at the generals on the left and right, and said seriously: "This captain, I just received the news that the emperor was incognito at Zhangtai Street in Chang'an to see the people's livelihood in Chang'an.
Long Yan was furious because of the difficulty and has ordered a thorough investigation!"
"Originally, we, the warriors, should not be involved in this matter. It is our duty to protect the country and the country!"
"Of course! This time, the thieves and ignorant officials in Chang'an City have bullied our warriors!"
"Three miles east of Zhangtai Street, the widow and orphan of the brave warrior Yang Wei were bullied by the other generation! Not only the martial arts and meritorious service of the brave warrior Yang Wei were usurped, but even the allowance of the warrior's orphan was also occupied by the other generation!"
"This is tolerable, but what can't be tolerated!"
"Today, they can deceive the widows and orphans of strong men! Tomorrow, if we are lucky enough to die in battle and sacrifice our lives for our country, but our orphans and widows are deceived by thieves, knights, and merchants, how can we feel at ease under the circumstances?
?”
"This situation must not last forever! This situation must never happen again!" Han Yong clenched his fists and shouted loudly.
As a result, all the officers of the Thorny Sect Army, including Sima and above, signed and stamped their signatures on a blood book, which was then put into a box and immediately sent to Weiyang Palace.
It's not just the Thornmen.
Similar things happened to the Southern Army and Northern Army, Xiliu Camp, Ba Shang Army, Huben Guard, and Yulin Guard.
The generals above and below were all agitated, with anger burning in their chests.
This situation is easy to understand.
Today, Han soldiers have a high status, good treatment, and are the ruling class.
In the eyes of the military, the so-called civil servants and bureaucrats are nothing more than auxiliaries and servants.
But now, these servants actually dare to show off their power over the soldiers, and dare to bully the orphans and widows of the soldiers?
It's against him!
What's more important is that the soldiers know it very well.
Today, these bureaucrats and knight-errants bullied Yang Wei's orphans and widows.
Tomorrow, if I die in battle, the orphans and widows left behind may also be bullied!
Therefore, the entire military formed a consensus in an instant.
The newly emerging military nobles did not need to join forces and immediately started taking action.
