Early in the morning, more than 10,000 people were gathered together in Liangfen Garden to listen to the oracle.
These days are not peaceful. Shengen Pavilion often arrests people. In the streets and markets, those who are good at discussing the court will be arrested. Those who are good at discussing ancient rituals will be arrested. Those who are good at discussing the clan will be arrested.
A few people casually called "big officials" in the wine shop, and half an hour later they were arrested by Sheng'en Pavilion and sentenced to 100 canes on the street. Several people involved were beaten to death on the spot, and the wine shop was also sealed.
These are still the rules during the day, but at night, there are even more rules.
Needless to say, there are places for romance, no matter courtyards, pavilions, pavilions, buildings, classes, teahouses, shacks with wooden fences, or wandering warblers on the street, we will catch them if they dare to open one.
Listening to a play, listening to a book, listening to music, or watching puppets is not acceptable. Both the shopkeeper and the customer will be arrested together.
The night market is also closed, not to mention the ghost market.
Even if you are wandering on the street, you may be arrested by Sheng'en Pavilion. Sheng'en Pavilion is too busy and the Zhang Deng Yamen will help you catch you.
A new member of Qianhu was appointed to the Deng Yamen, his surname was Zhou and his given name was Kairong.
"Which Zhou Kairong?"
"Who else could it be? It turned out to be Mr. Zhou from the Ministry of Personnel."
"The father of the second tiger of the Zhou family? Wasn't this guy frightened by Xu Denglang's beating? His son was killed, and his nephew was also killed!"
"Who says it's not true, but Xu Denglang is not in the capital now... No, we didn't say anything about Denglang just now, we didn't say anything!"
Before he could finish his words, the two people chatting were also arrested.
Since life is not peaceful, people do not dare to go out easily.
During the day, everyone is busy with their own business, and at night they stay at home.
The imperial court issued an edict to go to Liangfen Garden to listen to the oracle.
What's so good about an oracle? It's not just what the emperor says.
The common people didn't want to join in the fun, but they couldn't go this time. Sheng'en Pavilion took a list and walked through the streets and called the names of every household. Each person in each household set a time to go to Liangfen Garden to listen to the oracle.
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At nine o'clock, the first group of people came and waited at the gate of the garden.
After waiting for less than half an hour, Emperor Zhaoxing's dragon chariot arrived.
Gongsun Wen stood at the gate of the garden and shouted: "Kneel down to welcome us!"
He knelt down first, and everyone in Sheng En Pavilion also knelt down.
The common people did not have this habit and were still standing there in a daze. Sheng'en Pavilion sent out a hundred or so killing officers carrying sticks and came forward to beat them.
Hundreds of people were knocked down one after another, and the people knelt on the ground one after another. Those who stiffened their knees and refused to kneel were forced to the ground by the police, who stepped on their knees and forced them to kneel down.
Tong Qingqiu and Han Chen were also among them, and they used the sound transmission board to talk in secret.
"Senior brother, are you sure?"
"I'm not sure, I can't see the way out."
"It would be great if Tao Huayuan was here. She is more familiar with the magic circle."
"It's useless if she's here. This magic circle is too evil, and the methods mentioned by Taifu are still unclear as to whether they will work or not."
"If it doesn't work, let's leave quickly."
"We can't leave, not even for the sake of these ten thousand people."
"It would be great if we can be saved. If we can't be saved, don't be stubborn. Let's find a way to escape quickly."
Emperor Zhaoxing entered the garden, and soon some of his officials followed him.
Walking at the front was the cabinet, followed by the six ministries and major government offices. Walking at the end of the team were several censors. Wang Yanyang, whose face was covered with bruises, shouted loudly: "Xuanren, stand up, we Xuanren cannot
Kneel down, Xuanren’s knees are straight!”
There were shackles on his body, and a messenger from Shengen Pavilion took a short stick and hit Wang Yanyang in the face.
Wang Yanyang vomited out a mouthful of blood, with two teeth, and shouted to himself: "As long as I have a breath, my knees cannot be weak!"
Censor Qiu Dongcai was also shackled and yelled loudly from behind: "You bunch of beasts, don't touch Censor Wang if you have the ability. If you hit me, see if you can break my bones!"
The messenger came forward to beat him with a stick in his hand. Suddenly he saw one of the ministers standing up.
Yu Guangyuan, the Minister of Punishment, and Yu Shan’s father.
He walked up to the police officer and shouted sternly: "If you dare to touch the two censors again, I will take you to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment immediately."
The two police officers were stunned, Gongsun Wen was also stunned, and even Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai were stunned.
If we were to classify the officials in the capital as good or bad, Yu Guangyuan would definitely not be considered a good official.
He has taken bribes and perverted the law, and done things like confusing right and wrong. He has also done things like protecting himself wisely and making peace with others. At the Canglong Palace, he also ordered Yu Shan to kill Xu Zhiqiong. Everyone remembers this.
But why is he abnormal today?
Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai have repeatedly impeached him, so why are they still speaking for these two people today?
Yu Guangyuan shouted to the messengers from Shengen Pavilion: "Unlock the shackles of the censors!"
The messenger refused to take action and looked at Gongsun Wen. Gongsun Wen sneered and said, "Yu Shangshu, are you going to complain about the prisoner?"
Yu Guangyuan looked at Gongsun Wendao with contempt: "Don't talk about injustice. You said they are criminal prisoners. I also happen to be in charge of the Ministry of Punishment. Which law did these censors break?"
Gongsun Wendao: "It is a sin for them not to follow ancient rituals!"
Yu Guangyuan said: "Let me ask you, which law in Daxuan mentions ancient rituals?"
Gongsun Wen pursed his lips, it was really difficult to answer this question.
If it's not easy to answer, don't answer. Gongsun Wen doesn't need to answer Yu Guangyuan's question. He finds a hat to put on Yu Guangyuan first.
"So what if the law is not written down? The law is set by the emperor. Since the emperor follows ancient rituals, the law should be changed! Yu Shangshu, you only talk about the law and not about the emperor. Could it be that you are despising the Holy One?"
Yu Guangyuan did not accept this label and directly poked at Gongsun Wen's vital points: "Since the law has been changed, where is the edict?"
Gongsun Wen murmured for a while and said: "The Holy One is planning to amend the law. Today I asked you to come here to listen to the oracle, just to make you convinced after amending the law!"
The Minister of Rites suddenly walked up to Gongsun Wen and said: "Since we are convinced, why do you need to use the shackles? Why do you want to hurt the two censors? If ancient etiquette allows you to hurt people wantonly, wouldn't it become a bad etiquette!"
The Minister of Civil Affairs came forward and said: "Where are these people from? How can they beat the imperial officials? There are only more than two hundred people on the list of Sheng'en Pavilion, but you have more than a thousand people under your command!"
Yan Anqing, the chief assistant of the cabinet, spoke up: "If we don't release a few censors today, we will never enter Liangfen Garden!"
Gongsun Wen laughed ferociously: "You and the sycophants are going to rebel! Since you and the others are resisting the decree, you have been chained together and handed over to the Holy Lord for disposal!"
When the words fell, the officials showed no fear.
Gongsun Wen frowned and was thinking about countermeasures when he suddenly heard someone talking among the people.
"That's right! Why would you hit someone?"
"Aren't we told to listen to the oracle? Just listen, why are you beating people!"
"If the true God recognizes this ancient ritual, and so do we, why are you forcing us to kneel down now?"
Someone stood up, and the officers from Sheng'en Pavilion came forward to beat them again.
More and more people stood up, and these police officers were only at the ninth level. The people took the opportunity to surround them. At first they just pushed and pushed them, but then they turned into beatings.
All the people stood up. Gongsun Wen was shocked. He hurriedly suppressed the anger of the people with his awe-inspiring righteousness, and quickly ordered his men to deliver messages to the garden.
Emperor Zhaoxing was sitting on the dragon chair, enjoying the neat kneeling of the clan members, when he suddenly heard Qi Anguo, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, coming to report: "Your Majesty, something has happened..."
After hearing what happened, Emperor Zhaoxing smiled grimly: "We should have just let them come. The rebellious ministers and unruly people should not have stayed here long ago!
Let Gongsun Wen not have to argue with them. If he doesn’t want to wear shackles, he will take them off. If he doesn’t want to kneel, he will let them in. He will have to kneel in the future anyway!”
Qi Anguo sent the order, and Chen Shuncai stood quietly behind Emperor Zhaoxing.
After receiving the emperor's order, Gongsun Wen's attitude immediately changed: "My lords, I have this temper. I do things a little too eagerly, but my heart is all for the Holy One."
After saying this, he ordered his men to remove the shackles of several censors, and apologized to Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai respectively.
After a while of appeasement, the officials entered Liangfen Garden, and the people followed.
Halfway through the journey, the Minister of Civil Affairs said in a low voice: "Shang Shu Yu, you spoke out for justice today, but I am filled with admiration."
Yu Guangyuan smiled and said nothing.
There is no such thing as righteousness, and Yu Guangyuan, Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai don't have much to say about righteousness.
But today he couldn't kneel into Liangfen Garden because he had received the news.
His son Yu Shan will be back soon.
His son won the battle in the north. Naturally, the emperor would not recognize his military exploits!
It doesn't matter if he doesn't admit it, I do!
At this time, you must stand with your knees straight and not lose the dignity of your son!
Seeing the royal family members who kept kneeling and worshiping, the people started talking one after another.
"Did you really hear the oracle?"
"I heard they knelt here all day and night."
"The Canglong God really appeared?"
The ministers were well-informed and felt that the atmosphere was not right.
The Minister of Rites said: "Yesterday, the clan came to Liangfen Garden to participate in the ceremony. Why are they still kneeling down this morning?"
The Minister of Civil Affairs said: "Look at their strange expressions, as if they were under a spell."
Yan Anqing lowered his voice and said, "Gentlemen, please be careful. If anything unusual happens, follow me out of Liangfen Garden."
There was still half an hour before the ceremony started. Emperor Zhaoxing sat on the dragon chair and silently looked at the ministers and people.
Song Yijun, the commander of the imperial army, suddenly came to report: "Your Majesty, the prince has led his troops and arrived outside the city!"
Emperor Zhaoxing was surprised: "When did you come?"
Song Yijun said: "As soon as we arrived at the city, I have ordered the city gate to be closed!"
"How many troops are coming?"
"About five thousand."
"How come there's no news at all?"
Song Yijun pursed his lips and said, "My lord, I really don't know."
He couldn't answer this question.
The Forbidden Army is only responsible for the garrison of the capital, and other matters are not under his control.
Emperor Zhaoxing clenched his fists and asked in a low voice: "How many forbidden troops are there in the capital?"
"The number that can be mobilized is more than 3,700."
Emperor Zhaoxing frowned. There were more than 3,700 people. With the advantage of the city, it would not be a problem to hold on for several months.
"Assemble the imperial army, guard the city gates, appease the prince, do not fight with him, and ask people to go out of the city to mobilize troops and horses to Pingzhou, Chaizhou, and Yizhou to kill the rebels!"
Song Yijun lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's too late."
"How come it's too late?" Emperor Zhaoxing said with a serious face, "There are nearly four thousand forbidden troops, but they still can't defend the capital?"
"Your Majesty, the cavalry general is here too!"
"Chu Xin!" Emperor Zhaoxing's face turned pale.
With Chu Xin here, the capital might not even be able to defend it for three days.
Is he here too?
The war in the north will not be fought?
Emperor Zhaoxing frowned, left the dragon chair, returned to the dragon chariot, and called Chen Shuncai in.
In emergencies and emergency measures, he could only trust Chen Shuncai.
"Write a letter and use a magic circle to send it to Emperor Tunu, telling him that neither the prince nor Chu Xin is in the army, and asking him to immediately raise troops to attack Xuemu Province!"
Chen Shuncai nodded and said: "I obey the order."
After a while, the letter was written. After Emperor Zhaoxing read it, he put it in the letter tube, sealed it, and handed it to Chen Shuncai.
You beast! How dare you lead an army to rebel!
Emperor Zhaoxing hammered the case, gritted his teeth and said: "You bought these three provinces with your life, I see you are reluctant to part with them!"
Chen Shuncai got out of the dragon chariot and found Song Yijun, the commander of the Imperial Army.
Song Yijun looked anxious and said: "Chen Bingbi, what are the instructions from the Holy One?"
Chen Shuncai lowered his voice and said: "General Song, Your Majesty asked you to open the city gate."
"Open the city gate?" Song Yijun was shocked.
Chen Shuncai nodded and said: "Your Majesty said that there is no unsolvable knot between father and son. Over the years, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince have had many disputes. Every time, the Crown Prince admitted something wrong. Let's just deal with His Majesty's family affairs."
Don't get involved, just do what you're told."
Song Yijun still refused to believe it, and Chen Shuncai changed his face: "General Song, you are a sensible person. Our family is delivering messages for the saint, how can we still lie to you?
Go early and invite the prince into the city. Don't make the matter a big deal. If you anger the prince and make it get out of hand, can you still save your head?"
Song Yijun did not dare to delay any longer and ran towards the north gate in a hurry.
Chen Shuncai returned to the chariot and whispered: "Your Majesty, the letter has been sent."