Zhang Bi, Zhang Zheng and others took the arrested Shu merchants and their entourage to the county government and began a rigorous interrogation. As expected, as Zhang Bi had inferred, after a severe punishment, the Shu merchants confessed
The truth.
He was indeed sent to Luoyang by Gongsun Shu, whose purpose was to spread prophecy books such as "Lu Yun Fa", "Yuan Shen Qi", "Kuo Di Xiang" and so on.
He was not the first group of people to come to Luoyang. Before he came, several groups of people had already come to Luoyang to spread such prophecy books. In addition, he also told Gongsun Shu about several strongholds he had set up in Luoyang.
According to his explanation, Zhang Ben followed the lead and led the government officials to seal down all these strongholds. In several strongholds, they also found a large number of such books.
In Zhang Bi's view, this should be just a secret line planted by Gongsun Shu in Luoyang. Gongsun Shu must have other secret lines in Luoyang. However, through these arrested people, no clues to other secret lines can be found.
When Zhang Bi was being tortured in the execution room to extract a confession, a government servant walked quickly to Zhang Bi and whispered: "County Captain Zhang, Magistrate Dong asked you to come over!"
"Okay, I understand." Zhang Bi nodded, pointed at the prisoner being interrogated, and said to his subordinates: "Continue to punish him until he speaks. As long as he doesn't kill the person and leaves him alive, that's fine.
!”
After explaining his men, Zhang Bi left the cell, washed his face and hands first, and then went to the lobby to meet Dong Xuan.
After seeing Dong Xuan, Zhang Bi sat down. Seeing that there was still tea on the table, he picked it up, drank it all in one gulp, and said: "County Magistrate Dong, I am interrogating prisoners. Now is the most critical moment.
when!"
Dong Xuan waved his hand to him and said: "Let's not interrogate for now. You can clean up immediately and follow me into the palace."
Zhang Bi was stunned for a while before he came back to his senses. He stood up subconsciously, looked at Dong Xuan in surprise, and stammered: "Enter... enter the palace? Yes... to meet.
Today?"
Dong Xuan said seriously: "Yes! We are summoned to the palace now!"
Zhang Bi blinked, hurriedly looked down at his clothes, and murmured: "I...I have to change into clean official uniforms quickly, but...but I don't have any clean ones..."
While talking, he scratched his head and spread his hands, and he became completely at a loss.
He is just a county captain and has never seen the emperor. Today the emperor summoned him in person. This is like smoke rising from his ancestral graves. Can he not be nervous?
Dong Xuan looked him up and down, stood up and said, "Lieutenant Zhang is in good condition. There is no need to change. You go and take a bath first, and then follow me into the palace."
"Uh... Okay! Okay, okay!" Zhang Ben nodded repeatedly, turned around and walked out quickly.
Luoyang Imperial Palace.Lantai.
Liu Xiu met Dong Xuan and Zhang Bi at Lantai. Also with Liu Xiu were Shangshu Linghou Ba, Yushi Zhongcheng Li You, and Sili Xiaowei Bao Yong.
Lantai is the library of the imperial palace and the place where the imperial envoys work, so the Yushitai is also called Lantai.
After Dong Xuan and Zhang Bi entered Lantai, they both saluted Liu Xiu and said respectfully: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
Liu Xiu waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" A chamberlain brought the seats over. Dong Xuan and Zhang Bi thanked them and knelt down on the mats in a formal manner.
Liu Xiu looked at Zhang Bi and asked, "Are you Zhang Bi, the captain of Luoyang County?"
Zhang Ben didn't dare to look Liu Xiu in the face, lowered his head, bowed to Liu Xiu, and said, "It's the little minister!"
"Did you check out all these books?" As he spoke, Liu Xiu waved his hand to the side. Zhang Ben turned around and saw several large boxes filled with bamboo slips from the inn.
Seized from Shu merchants.
He said sternly: "Your Majesty, these books were all confiscated from the hands of the minor officials."
Li You leaned over and said, "Your Majesty, Gongsun Shu is cunning and wants to use rumors to shake the foundation of our Han Dynasty!"
Bao Yong said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I believe that this case needs to be investigated strictly! Such books should be banned and destroyed!"
Liu Xiu was silent for a while, then looked at Dong Xian and Zhang Bi and asked, "County Magistrate Dong and Lieutenant Zhang, what do you two think?"
Dong Xuan said sternly: "I will listen to your majesty's judgment!" This matter already involves state affairs, and he is just a county magistrate, so he is not qualified to participate. Dong Xuan is a cruel official, yes, but he is also a stubborn person.
He only does things that are within the scope of his authority. If it goes beyond his authority, he will not interfere. In his opinion, it is an act of overstepping.
Zhang Ben thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, I think that what Li Zhongcheng and Bao Xiaowei said is right. These craftsmen from Shu use these books to confuse the public and spread rumors everywhere. If they are not severely punished, they will be punished."
If we stop it, the rumors will get worse and worse, which will be extremely detrimental to Your Majesty and the Han Dynasty."
Liu Xiu smiled calmly, picked up a volume of "Luck Recording Method", opened it and read it, raised the corner of his mouth and said: "Abolish Emperor Chang and establish Gongsun."
Even though these words came from Liu Xiu's mouth, everyone present felt uncomfortable hearing them. They lowered their heads one by one and did not dare to say anything.
Bang! Liu Xiu threw the slips on the table and said: "These books cannot be banned. "Guoyu" says that it is better to guard against the people's mouth than against the river. If these books are banned, it will only make the people think that the books
The prophecies recorded in the book are all true. I think this is what Gongsun Shu wants to see the most."
Hou Ba nodded repeatedly, raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Liu Xiu narrowed his eyes and murmured: "Gongsun! Gongsun!" As he spoke, he stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.
Dong Xuan and Zhang Bi sat upright, not daring to take a breath. Hou Ba, Li You, and Bao Yong frowned, thinking carefully. If these books cannot be banned, how can they break the unethical words written in them?
?
After walking for a while, Liu Xiu suddenly stopped and asked, "When did these books come into being?"
Hou Ba said seriously: "Reporting to Your Majesty, in order to win people's trust, Gongsun Shu wrote the book very far back."
This is also understandable. If these prophecy books were all written in the past two years, even a fool can guess that the prophecies in the books were all fabricated by Gongsun Shu.
Therefore, according to the records in the book, most of these books were written during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
After hearing this, Liu Xiu's eyes flashed, and then he smiled leisurely and said: "Tomorrow, a notice will be put up in the capital, saying: "Luck Recording Method", "Yuan Shen Deed", "Kuo Di Xiang" and other prophecies
The Gongsun mentioned is Emperor Xuan!"
Hearing this, everyone present was stunned and thought about it carefully. Hou Ba, Li You, and Bao Yong's eyes lit up again, and they all looked excited.
Even Dong Xuan nodded secretly, raised his thumb in his heart, and praised His Majesty for his intelligence and brilliance.
The Emperor Xuan mentioned by Liu Xiu naturally refers to Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty Liu Xun. Liu Xun's original name was Liu Bingji, the great-grandson of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and the direct grandson of Prince Liu Ju.
During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the famous witchcraft disaster broke out. Prince Liu Ju was affected and later committed suicide while being arrested.
Almost all of Liu Ju's wives, concubines, and children were killed. In the end, only Liu Bingji survived. Liu Bingji was only a few months old at the time.
When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty came to his senses, the tragedy had already occurred. Emperor Wu regretted it too much and made Liu Ju the ruthless prince.
The word "violent" here is not derogatory, but means injustice. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty named Liu Ju the Prince of Violence, which is equivalent to saying that his son died unjustly!
Therefore, Liu Ju's position as prince was never deprived of him. Even after his death, he was still posthumously named prince. As Liu Bing's direct grandson, Liu Bingji was naturally Gongsun.
After the death of Emperor Wu, Emperor Zhao succeeded to the throne, who was Liu Zhi's younger brother. Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu. He was only eight years old when he succeeded to the throne. Although he was young, he was a wise king. Unfortunately, he died young. Emperor Zhao
He was only twenty-one years old when he passed away, leaving no heirs.
Since Emperor Zhao had no heir, Liu Bing, as the legitimate grandson of the ruthless prince, had the opportunity to inherit the throne and became Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty.
Liu Xiu now puts the word Gongsun on Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, which can be explained. In this way, the rumor is self-defeating. The Gongsun mentioned in the prophecy refers to Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, so the Han Dynasty is still orthodox.
, you, Gongsun Shu, are still a rebel who lives in a corner.
Everyone present was well-read in the scriptures and knew everything about them. Only Zhang Bi's knowledge was limited to half a bottle, and he could not understand the meaning of Liu Xiu's words at all. His mind was filled with doubts as to how Emperor Xuan became Gongsun.
What? Isn’t Emperor Xuan’s surname Liu? His surname is not Gongsun either!
Li Youxi said with a smile: "Your Majesty is so wise!"
Bao Yong also said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I will have the announcement be hung up tomorrow and read out throughout the city!"
Liu Xiu nodded, turned his eyes to Zhang Bi, and said with a smile: "Zhang County Lieutenant!"
"Wei Chen is here!" Zhang Ben was shocked and hurriedly bowed forward to salute.
"I heard that it only took you two days to find the Shu merchants who spread the rumors, and you also seized these books."
"Wei Chen is lucky! It's just Wei Chen's luck!"
Liu Xiu smiled and said, "Luck is also a kind of ability." As he spoke, he turned his head and said, "Zhang Kun."
Zhang Ben bowed, walked up to Zhang Bi, and placed a tray in front of Zhang Bi. Zhang Bi glanced at it and saw five gold horseshoes placed on the tray.
Horseshoe gold was the currency at that time. It was made of gold and was named because it was shaped like a horse's hoof. A piece of horseshoe gold weighed 250 grams. At that time, 250 grams was one pound.
Seeing Zhang Bi staring at the tray blankly and not reacting for a long time, Dong Xuan coughed and reminded in a low voice: "Why don't you thank me quickly? What are you waiting for?!"
Zhang Bi came back to his senses, kowtowed forward quickly, and said: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness!"
Liu Xiu smiled and waved his hand, motioning for Zhang Bi to stand up. He asked: "How is the review of the fine work from Shu?"
Zhang Ben said sternly: "Through meticulous work, I destroyed three hidden stakes set up by Gongsun Shu in Luoyang and arrested more than ten people." After a pause, he said sternly: "Gongsun Shu can spread rumors in Luoyang like this.
So fast, Wei Chen thought that the hidden stakes Gongsun Shu had set up in Luoyang were definitely not limited to these three, and there should be more. However, Wei Chen has not been able to find out the other hidden stakes yet."
Liu Xiu nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile to Dong Xuan: "Strength Order, the county captain you promoted this time is very good and very capable."
Dong Xuan was completely unfazed by honor and disgrace. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty praised me highly."
Liu Xiu said with a smile: "Lieutenant Zhang, do your best, and you may have a chance to enter Lantai in the future."
Entering Lantai means becoming an imperial envoy. Who is an imperial envoy? He is a person who directly serves the emperor and can supervise all officials.
After Zhang Bi heard this, he immediately knelt down again, kowtowed to Liu Xiu, and said in a trembling voice: "I will do whatever it takes to serve your majesty, even if I am a humble minister."
Liu Xiu waved his hand and said: "Okay, County Magistrate Dong and County Lieutenant Zhang, you two can go back! We still need to do our best to investigate and deal with the detailed matters."
"Wei Chen understands that Wei Chen will definitely live up to His Majesty's trust!" Zhang Bi followed Dong Xuan out of Lantai and was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. He only accomplished one errand, and he had completely turned over in his life. Not only did he win the favor of Your Majesty,
The rewarded hardware was also promised by His Majesty, and he would have the opportunity to enter Lantai in the future. He looked at Dong Xuan, who was walking aside with an expressionless face, and asked with a cheerful smile: "Isn't County Magistrate Dong jealous?
