When he was in Xiliang, Chen Cheng had already ordered the abolition of all kinds of torture, such as lingchi, beheading, quartering the body with five horses, etc., and they were no longer used. Only the two types of death penalty, "hanging" and "beheading" were retained. This
Taoist orders are considered to be virtuous government. Many people know it, and the emperor also knows it.
That's why he asked at this time: "Since they are court ministers, shouldn't they keep the whole body?"
Chen Cheng shook his head and said: "We Han people have never been afraid of bloodshed. Ministers have noble status, so of course they must die in a decent manner."
He looked around the hall and asked: "These people should be beheaded according to the law. Who is in favor of it and who is against it?"
There was silence in the hall, and the courtiers lowered their heads, saying neither approval nor objection. Only the Queen Mother He said angrily: "The general is so majestic!"
Chen Cheng glanced at the Queen Mother He and said: "I am the most reasonable person. If the Queen Mother has any different opinions, she can say it in front of the ministers now. If it makes sense, I will naturally listen."
Queen Mother He snorted coldly and turned her head to one side.
Seeing that no one spoke anymore, Chen Cheng said to Sun Duan, the scholar on the ground: "Master, since you are awake, why are you still lying on the ground? Get up. I don't want to kill more people. Your family is just exiled. If there is any
What are your last words? Say it quickly now, and then you can get on your way."
He looked at Queen Fu next to the emperor, and then at the pale-faced chariot general Fu Wan among the courtiers, and thought to himself: For the sake of the emperor, I will give you another chance. If you get involved in this next time,
If it comes from this kind of thing, then you can’t blame me.
Fu Wan caught a glimpse of Chen Cheng looking over and was startled. He lowered his head even further. Like Wang Yun, he had close contacts with Sun Duan and was involved in the plan. Now that the general was about to kill someone, he casually killed one more.
It's not a difficult thing. He wept in his heart and secretly wept: Master, just go with peace of mind, I will avenge you!
Shisun Duan was called out by Chen Cheng, so he opened his eyes and climbed up from the ground, bowed to the emperor, and then said to the other courtiers in the hall: "My ministers, I will take the first step!"
He glared at Chen Cheng and shouted: "Chen Thief, do it!"
Chen Cheng said to his left and right: "Why do you make it look like I have become the villain?"
Yang Qiudao: "Why should my lord care about these people? Just send them on their way as soon as possible."
Chen Cheng smiled and said: "That's right. Whoever comes, drag him down and kill him!"
Shisun Duan flicked his sleeves and said angrily to the two tooth soldiers who came up: "I can leave by myself!"
His righteous and awe-inspiring appearance made many ministers look with reverence. However, more people were so frightened that their faces turned pale, their hands and feet were trembling, and three or four even couldn't help but wet their pants and screamed in disgust.
The smell. Since ancient times, the only option is death. There are still a few people who can fear neither life nor death without training.
After Shi Sun Duan and others were dragged down, Chen Cheng pressed the horizontal knife on his waist and said to everyone in the hall: "What happened today should be taken as a warning, and you should be more peaceful in the future. Although I don't like killing people."
, but we are not afraid of killing people either.”
Everyone he saw lowered their heads, and Chen Cheng said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, read more books, study hard, make progress every day, and don't get involved with these rebellious officials and traitors. When you finish studying, I will
Teach you some skills in leading troops to fight and govern the place."
"ah?"
Liu Bian had a look of astonishment on his face, not only on him, but also on the courtiers, the Queen Mother, and the civil servants and generals under Chen Cheng.
After Chen Cheng finished speaking, he said to Yan Zhong and Jia Xu, who had been watching silently: "The matter has been dealt with. Should Bo Dao and Wen He go back to work, or go to my house for a small gathering?"
Yan Zhong smiled and said, "I'll go back to the office first and wait until I'm released from office."
Jia Xu said: "I am the same as Zhong Shuling."
Chen Cheng nodded, said no more, and left Changle Palace with his bodyguards. When the fierce and heavy-armored soldiers in the main hall had left, Emperor Liu Bian stepped forward, pulled Liu Qian's sleeves, and said urgently
"Imperial sister, you have to make it clear to your brother-in-law that I am not the instigator of these things!"
The ministers looked at each other with different expressions on their faces, and then left together in silence.
The Central Government Office is to the west of Weiyang Palace. Not long after Yan Zhong returned to Zhongshu Province, soldiers came to announce: "Jingzhao Yin Mengtuo wants to see you."
Yan Zhong said: "Bring him in."
When Meng Tuo sat down on the futon, Yan Zhong said: "We did a good job this time."
Meng Tuo said respectfully: "It's all arranged properly by Zhongshu Ling, but the master still can't make up his mind and refuses to kill more people. With such a good opportunity, we only got rid of a dozen people."
Yan Zhong stroked his beard and sneered: "Don't be anxious, things must take your time. Even if the emperor can tolerate it, these ministers cannot. You should pay attention to it and collect more of their illegal activities, and sooner or later it will be useful
place."
"Yes," Meng Tuo seemed to have thought about it, and said, "Your Majesty, Jia Wenhe, is a person trusted by the lord. If he can stand on our side, things will be much easier to handle."
"Jia Xu? Humph, he has talent but no courage, so don't worry about him."
Meng Tuo said: "But if it is said that Her Royal Highness the Princess is very close to Jia Xu, and he is in charge of Menxia Province, will this...will it be detrimental to us?"
"Don't worry, Jia Wenhe is a smart man. It's difficult for him to stand out, but he won't jump out to oppose us." Yan Zhong said: "As long as we don't cause problems ourselves, he won't deliberately embarrass us."
Having said this, Yan Zhong glared at Meng Tuo and said: "I want your people to keep their hands and feet clean. There are so many things to do to make money now. Don't always think about squeezing the people. The king hates bullying the weak the most. If you don't do anything,
If you don’t, just invest your money in textile mills and other factories, that will make money much faster than farming!”
Meng Tuo said with some embarrassment: "Zhongshu Ling, I am not short of money, and I also have some shares in the factory. But the officials below are really not living well. They have no money and no way to participate in the factory!"
"
Yan Zhong said angrily: "Then let them go to the Western Regions to grow cotton. They will definitely make money quickly!"
"this.........."
Yan Zhong glanced at Meng Tuo, who looked increasingly embarrassed, and said, "I will recommend Zidu to the middle school. When he finishes his studies, he will go to the Ministry of Household Affairs or the Ministry of War to help me."
Meng Tuo said quickly: "Thank you very much for your order, but Quan Zi still wants to join the army."
Shisun Duan's attempt to assassinate the general was a serious political incident. Hundreds of people died. Thirteen ministers were beheaded. They were all important ministers who followed the emperor from Luoyang to Chang'an. Their families were also exiled to Jiuquan County or
They went further to the Western Regions. The death of so many court ministers was a good thing for the Liangzhou faction, but not necessarily for Chen Cheng.
Those ministers are not the same person. They have in-laws, colleagues, old disciples, teachers, etc. behind them. The relationship is intricate. Killing people is very enjoyable, but the cohesion is lost a lot, and all the princes in the world will also be affected by this incident.
He despised the imperial court and was dissatisfied with Chen Cheng.
However, there are also benefits. The powerful people and scholars in Guanzhong have become more at ease because of this. Even some people with ulterior motives will not dare to cause trouble again in a short period of time after seeing Chen Cheng's decisive killing.
A few days later, Chen Cheng called Lu Bu over again. Lu Bu followed the tooth soldiers to a palace that was both strange and familiar. He said it was strange because the soldiers guarding it were all unfamiliar to him. It was said that he was familiar because he
He once had the entire Chang'an Palace to himself and could sleep wherever he wanted. He also slept in Weiyang Palace.
After entering the palace, Lu Bu saluted Chen Cheng and said, "See you, General!"
"Please take a seat."
When Lu Bu sat down, Chen Cheng said: "A few days ago, I arrested Sun Duan and others, copied a lot of correspondence, and implicated many court ministers. Many people said that they had also tried to win over you, but you didn't
Rejected, why?"
Lu Bu was shocked, but when he saw that the soldiers around him were standing still and not coming up, he felt relieved. He spread his hands and said, "Why else? Wang Yun and his gang have no soldiers or generals."
, still want to rebel? I’m not stupid, how could I join them?”
Chen Cheng asked with great interest: "Oh, so you think so, then why don't you come and report them to me?"
Lu Bu felt bitter in his heart and thought to himself: You robbed my Diao Chan and you still want me to please you? Bah!
He said bitterly: "Although I can't beat you, I'm not a villain who can act according to the wind!"
Chen Cheng laughed dumbly, shook his head, and said, "If it were anyone else, I could kill you just for not reporting the crime."
Lu Bu suddenly stood up from his chair and said in shock: "You want to kill me?"
Chen Cheng looked at Lu Bu's nervous look and said with a smile: "Why are you so nervous? If I want to kill you, can you still resist? You are unarmed now. No matter how high your martial arts skills are, what use will it be?"
Lu Bu felt relieved and let go of his clenched hands, but then he asked nervously: "You didn't want to kill me, did you?"
"No."
Only then did Lu Bu really feel relieved and sat back on the chair. Chen Cheng pondered for a while and asked, "How is General Lu living in Chang'an City?"
"Okay, how could it be bad?" Lu Bu said angrily, "How about you try it instead?"
"Haha, General Lu is such a sweetheart." Chen Cheng said with a smile: "From last year to now, although you have not lived in this city of Chang'an for a full year, it is almost there. Those former subordinates of yours have established a
He achieved many military exploits, especially Gao Shun, who defeated Cao Cao's troops many times in Xuzhou."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Chen Chengdao: "Gao Shun has written to you many times and said a lot of good things about you. He fought bravely and refused to retreat despite being wounded several times. I thought, since there are still people who can be so devoted to you, it shows that you are still a bit extraordinary, Fengxian."
of the place.”
Lu Bu said proudly: "Huh, a certain family's martial arts has never been matched by anyone!"
Chen Cheng smiled half-heartedly and said, "Really?"
Lu Bu couldn't help but look a little ugly when he thought about his defeat by Chen Cheng. The muscles on his face twitched and he reluctantly admitted: "I'm just a little worse than you."
