"I still often say that the world is peaceful and there are no evildoers in the country."
"It's just that I think that if His Majesty wants to talk about whether to kill or not to kill, what's the use of an alchemist?" He Xiu doesn't advocate killing Zhang Jiao, but he doesn't agree with his appointment. In his opinion, these alchemists are all useless.
He is a person who deceives the public with his evil words. His crime may not lead to death, but he cannot be reused. What should he be used for? Firstly, he does not understand politics, secondly, he does not understand criminal law, and thirdly, he is not good at military affairs.
What a useless person.
The emperor smiled and said, "Master He still remembers what happened to Zhang Heng earlier?" He Xiu narrowed his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you want to support Taiping Road?"
The emperor stood up and said with some emotion: "In the third year of Jianning, there was a thief in Yangzhou who called himself the Emperor of Yin and Yang and planned to cause chaos. In the fourth year of Jianning, there was a thief in Yizhou who called himself a god and deceived the public with his evil words. As of today, people continue to perform obscene sacrifices.
, the four lines of messengers in embroidered clothes are suppressed by local officials, but such absurd things still happen, which makes me really uneasy!"
"Cut off obscene sacrifices, this is the ancestral system." He Xiu said.
"Hundreds of years have not been able to suppress this evil wind. In this case, why not take care of it with the hands of the temple..." The emperor said calmly, but he had no choice but to say: "This is the most deceiving person. If
If used by traitors, I'm afraid it will cause chaos!"
"Therefore, I want to use Zhang Jiao. This person can bewitch millions of people to rise up and rebel. Can't he make millions of people worship me for me?" The emperor suddenly turned his head, with a sharp look in his eyes.
He Xiu was afraid to look directly, and He Xiu was shocked. This was the first time that he truly felt this intimidating momentum, and he paused.
"Your Majesty, it is already extremely merciful to leave such traitors unkilled, so why do they need to use such crooked ways? Only when people practice benevolent government and do things personally will the people love them. If the country is governed by such small ways, how is it any different from Jie and Zhou?
?”
"Hahaha, why does Master look down on those alchemists so much?"
"They are just liars who fooled the people. What's the point?"
The emperor smiled again, helped He Xiu up, and said with a smile: "Master He Xiu is angry, I just said casually, hahaha, I remember Master He's teachings, be close to virtuous ministers, stay away from villains, and value the virtuous."
To rule the world, my achievements today are all due to Master He!" He said with a smile, and suddenly said: "I have learned deeply from Master He's teachings, and I have kept these things in my heart."
"Therefore, I hope Master He can teach you more about the principles of Confucianism. As for the words of being close to the virtuous, I will teach him... Master He, what do you think?"
Hearing what the emperor said, He Xiu trembled with anger and asked, "Isn't it the righteousness of governing the world to be a worthy minister and a humble man from far away?"
The emperor didn't speak again, and the atmosphere suddenly became silent.
"Master He, you don't need to say more. One day, I will definitely hand him the Book of Heaven and let him see what would happen to the Han Dynasty without me. He will adhere to my will and become a saint.
Emperor, but before that, he must learn to distinguish between virtuous and treacherous people. I don’t want his first thing after taking the throne to execute Zhang He in order to please virtuous people!”
"I'm really busy, Master He, please go back and have a good rest..."
The emperor said, He Xiu looked at the emperor's resolute profile, sighed helplessly, turned around and left slowly, looking at the trembling old man on crutches, the emperor stared at it for a long time, but never spoke again.
He Xiu, who slowly left the palace, did not expect that this would be the last time he would be called by the emperor to discuss politics alone.
He Xiu was helped into the bullock cart with a sad expression. He understood what the emperor meant. The emperor would not allow himself to say good things about party members in the prince's ears. He needed an heir who learned from Gongyang, not a heir who learned from Confucianism.
, returned to the courtyard lonely, and just as he got closer, he heard someone exclaiming. He Xiu slowly raised his head, and the little fat man hung himself on the tall mulberry tree, shouting at him.
There were guards standing under the mulberry tree. These guard slaves looked up nervously, for fear that the prince would fall.
Under the afterglow of the sun, seeing the familiar little fat man shouting and cheering at him, He Xiu seemed to have returned to more than ten years ago. He smiled and waved to the little fat man.
"Hey, yeah, what is a virtuous minister and what is a villain?"
"If you think so, then that's..."
.....................
Zhang Jiao and Liu Bo rushed to Luoyang. Zhang Jiao was called over by several inn guards and asked to go to the inn to rest. To be honest, Zhang Jiao was already a little afraid of the inn, but this was Luoyang, where the world was at his feet.
, the security was very strict, and things like Jiedu Pavilion would not happen. Zhang Jiao entered the inn alone, but Liu Bo was different. Huang Men, headed by Song Dian, came to greet him in person.
He was welcomed into the palace with great ceremony.
With the support of Huangmen, Uncle Liu walked into the hall tremblingly. The emperor, the queen mother, the empress of Song, He Guiren, and the little fat man were all present. The emperor walked down with a smile and quickly supported Uncle Liu.
At first, he seemed extremely restrained in front of the emperor, and he hurriedly bowed to him: "Meet the emperor!" Liu Hong couldn't help him to salute him, so he hurriedly helped him up.
"Uncle Liu and my family have served for three generations. Come and sit down!"
After letting Uncle Liu sit down, Empress Dowager Dong also looked at him, smiled, and said, "We haven't seen each other for a long time, but the steward still hasn't seen him grow old!" Uncle Liu quickly bowed again, and then the emperor introduced the queen to him.
The fat man was waiting. When he saw the little fat man raising his head a little arrogantly, Uncle Liu smiled. He looked so similar. Everyone sat down and started talking again.
The emperor mainly asked about some things about Jiedu Pavilion. Empress Dowager Dong also listened attentively. Liu Bo talked about the changes in Jiedu Pavilion in these days one by one. He was very happy. Soon, some food was served, which was considered a good meal.
After the family dinner, it was not until evening that everyone left, leaving only Uncle Liu and the emperor.
"I beg your Majesty to apologize!"
Uncle Liu then bowed to the emperor and said hoarsely.
"Oh? Uncle Liu, what does this mean? Why is it so?"
The emperor asked in surprise.
"Your Majesty's cousin, Dong Chong, died at the hands of his ministers!" Liu Bo whispered. The emperor was shocked, pointed at Liu Bo, his whole body trembled with anger, and asked: "Why? Why do you want to kill him?"
he?"
"He is as close to me as a compatriot! Why did you do such a murderous thing?!"
"Just because he was domineering, I was very dissatisfied, so I killed him."
"Treason!!" The emperor roared angrily, and Liu Bo added: "Previously, Zhang Jiao led the Taoist priests, and I was interested in his money, so I murdered two of his disciples and took away the money. Your Majesty can use this
Tell the world about these things, I should apologize!"
"You want to apologize to everyone in the world!"
"I know that my sin is serious, please deal with it by your majesty!" There was no fear on Liu Bo's face. He had lived for more than eighty years. If he could die for his loyalty, he would not hesitate. The emperor looked at him helplessly and beat his chest.
, said with some pain: "I regard you as my family, how should I deal with it!"
Uncle Liu didn't reply. The emperor paused and then asked: "My cousin read the heavenly book and you killed him. Why didn't you report the truth?" Liu Bo looked at the emperor and said solemnly: "The master of the family is not wrong. The emperor is right."
He will never make mistakes, the only ones who make mistakes are the ministers and slaves."
"It's so ridiculous. Who has no fault? When I was young, my cousin was killed due to my fault. Every time I think about it, my heart aches unbearably. What about those Taiping Dao disciples?"
"I thought that Zhang Jiao had some conspiracy to scatter his property and help the people privately, so he arrested his brother and tortured him for questioning..."
"Then what evil intentions does he have?"
"I have not asked, but I hope the emperor can be cautious about this person! Don't be deceived by him."
"Oh, these are all my fault. I can't let you get such a bad reputation. Just rest in peace in Jiedu Pavilion. I won't tell these things. However, they can't die in vain. Dong Zhong's younger brother, Dong Cheng
, I will personally raise him and treat him as a close relative. In addition, I will also make other compensation for Zhang Jiao... I cannot bear to kill one person or one animal in vain."
"The Emperor is merciful!!"
"It's a good thing that you were born and raised in Yitingting. If it were in the future, I would never have thought that the feared murderer in the river was actually my retainer... In the future, I don't know, there will be a time when the murderer should take action...
"
Uncle Liu looked at the emperor in front of him and bowed. Sure enough, the emperor has not changed. He is unpredictable and moody. It is really unpredictable. In this case, it is good that the old marquis has saved his life. He has sworn that the emperor has saved his life.
, To protect the Liu family, Xiao Junhou no longer needs to protect him. The old prince has fulfilled his oath!