When Man Chong rushed into the prison in a panic, the soldiers almost filled the entire cell. Man Chong shouted, and then everyone got out of the way. Man Chong rushed in, and saw two people lying on the ground.
A young man and an old man were lying calmly with their eyes closed tightly. Several doctors stood beside them, but they did nothing. Man Chong's eyes widened, looking at this situation, feeling a little unable to relax.
He looked at the three doctors. The doctors saw the looks he cast and shook their heads helplessly.
The soldiers on the side whispered: "Manjun, the wine brought by Sikong has just been examined by several doctors. It is poisoned wine. Both of them died after drinking the poison." Man Chong nodded and said:
"Don't move them. No one is allowed to leave or come in before I come back!" The soldiers took the order one after another, and Man Chong ordered his deputies before leaving quickly.
When Man Chong arrived at the palace in a hurry, Liu Xi was in the Houde Hall, discussing important matters with Sima Yi.
The two of them were not talking pleasantly. Liu Xi frowned and said nothing, but Sima Yi kept persuading him, "Your Majesty, the people of the world are your Majesty's people. When you treat them, you must naturally implement benevolent government and be benevolent and righteous."
But everyone outside the wall is the enemy of our great Han Dynasty, so why should we treat it with benevolence and righteousness? As long as your majesty agrees and I take care of it immediately, no one will know that we have done this."
"Your Majesty has also seen the situation of the national treasury. It has fallen to the point where Yuan Sikong needs to use his family property to finance it. This move is a huge profit. Moreover, it can destroy the enemy without fighting. Within ten years, it will destroy itself without attacking, Your Majesty."
Sima Yi persuaded, but Liu Xi was still hesitant. He said irritably: "How can we, a country of benevolence and righteousness, behave like this? This is a harmful move. Besides, Emperor Xiaoxian once issued an order."
"How can your majesty say that it is harming people? It is obviously to save people. I heard that there are few medicines in Guishang, Anxi and other places. Not to mention the common people, even the nobles have many casualties. We sell them to them. This
Saving them is a matter of great virtue. Besides, I will arrange this matter privately and find a merchant I can trust. I will never have any contact with your Majesty or me."
Liu Xi thought for a moment and gradually hesitated.
"I know that your Majesty is kind-hearted and does not want to hurt the common people. However, your Majesty thinks that the poor people can really buy these? Will those who will buy in the future not be those powerful and powerful people who harm the people? Is it possible that your Majesty also treats them too?
Do you have a heart of benevolence and righteousness? Your Majesty, Kushan is a land that cannot be underestimated. Your Majesty, look at Xiting County. It was originally the most backward area in Kushan and has experienced successive years of war. But what about development now?
It’s so fast, with countless farmlands, it’s as rich as any other state in the Central Plains!!”
"If you get those wealthy areas in the south of Guishang, the food produced here can feed millions of people in our Han Dynasty. Will Your Majesty be a benevolent monarch of the Han Dynasty, or a benevolent monarch beyond the Great Wall??" Sima Yi had already said.
Somewhat rude, Liu Xi glanced at him, sighed, no longer hesitated, looked at Sima Yi, nodded, but still did not speak.
Sima Yi did not wait for the emperor to speak. He knew in his heart, very clearly, that the emperor would not speak. The emperor may not be so benevolent and righteous, and he needed such persuasion from him. However, these were not important. He only needed to know
, in the future, if someone uses this as an excuse to say that the temple is unkind, then His Majesty has absolutely no knowledge, and he has dissuaded himself. All this is his own idea, and has no connection with the emperor.
"Your Majesty, then I will find someone trustworthy." Sima Yi was about to say, but when he heard footsteps outside the door, he immediately stopped and turned around, only to see Huangmen Qiyue walking in and said: "
The country, Ting Wei is full of favors and begs to see you."
Sima Yi looked at Liu Xi, and Liu Xi said helplessly: "This guy must be here for conviction again, alas."
"Your Majesty, do you want me to retire first?"
"No problem," Liu Xi said, then looked at Qi Yue and said, "Let Man Chong come in."
"Here you go!"
Sima Yi was speechless. He sat next to the emperor with his head lowered. Liu Xi did the same, but in his heart he was thinking about how to persuade Man Chong. Man Chong was capable and extremely loyal, but...
He doesn't know how to adapt and doesn't show favoritism. He is too upright. Such a minister really makes him love and hate him. He can be a wise minister of the Han Dynasty, but it is difficult for him to become a sharp sword in the hands of the emperor.
Just as the emperor was thinking about it, Man Chong walked in. At this moment, the emperor realized that something was wrong. When Man Chong came in, he looked extremely flustered and almost tripped over. Seeing him like this, Liu Xi felt a sudden rush in his heart.
Trembling, Man Chong has always been extraordinarily calm. No big deal has ever made him uneasy. What exactly happened to make Man Chong lose his composure? Sima Yi obviously thought the same, frowning and looking at Man Chong.
pet.
"Your Majesty Yuan Tan is dead and Sikong is dead too," Man Chong said.
As if there was a thunder, Liu Xi jumped up suddenly, "What did you say? Sikong is dead? What happened to him?"
"Your Majesty, Sikong came to Tingwei today to see his son. Not long after, the soldiers found them dead in the prison. There was a pot of wine beside them. This wine was poisonous. They were the soldiers who were poisoned.
The drinks were brought by Sikong, I'm going to Sikong's mansion, maybe I can understand if I ask clearly." Man Chong said, Liu Xi only felt a little dizzy, and after a long pause, he sat down.
"Does anyone else know about this matter?" Sima Yi suddenly asked. Man Chong was stunned and looked at him without answering. Liu Xi coughed, and Man Chong then said: "Except for my soldiers,
There are three doctors, Sima Jun, but no one knows about it." Sima Yi nodded, looked at Liu Xi, and said: "Your Majesty, I think there is something wrong with this matter. Maybe it is not as peaceful as it seems.
"
Liu Xi heard this, nodded, looked at Man Chong, and ordered: "Don't tell anyone about this matter, just go back to Tingwei Mansion, look at your soldiers, and ask them not to leave. I also feel this matter."
Something is wrong, I will send someone to find out." After hearing what Liu Xi said, Man Chong didn't understand what was wrong, but he didn't refute, bowed his hands, and left.
Watching him leave, Liu Xi sighed. He really didn't expect that Yuan Shao would be so strong. He thought that Yuan Shao might go to court and ask to resign from his official position, and he also thought that he might plead guilty. He just never thought that Yuan Shao would be so strong.
He would drag his eldest son and drink poison to commit suicide. He would rather die to preserve the reputation of the clan. Such behavior shocked Liu Xi and he didn't know what to say.
Liu Xi looked at Sima Yi and asked, "Zhongda, why don't you let Man Chong investigate?"
"The death of Your Majesty, Mr. Yuan, is not a trivial matter. Since the year of Xi Ping, when Mr. Yuan was appointed Sikong, the powerful families in the Han Dynasty have been particularly well-behaved. This has nothing to do with Mr. Yuan. Mr. Yuan is the head of the first aristocratic family. For all the powerful families,
, they all know each other very well. If he wants to deal with these people, he doesn't even need to take action himself. Just the third son Yuan Shang can make them miserable, including the Sima family where I am."
Sima Yi spoke without any restraint or hesitation. He said: "Now that Mr. Yuan is dead, if it is announced, these people will inevitably want to do something. Of course, our Sima family will not do it. However, You can't tell what the big families like Yang, Xun, and Zhuge will do. Your Majesty thinks that maybe we can use this matter to suppress them again."
"Oh? How to press it?"
"Your Majesty, some members of a wealthy family colluded with Yuan Tan and wanted to destroy the Yuan family. The matter was leaked, and they tried to kill Yuan Tan with poisoned wine to silence him. They were afraid that Yuan Tan would inform Duke Yuan of everything. However, they did not expect that Duke Yuan also drank it. With this wine, we will die together." Sima Yi frowned and said, "Why don't you investigate such a big matter carefully?"
Liu Xi was stunned. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Zhongda, can you do a good job in this matter?"
"Your Majesty, I will do my best"
Liu Xi didn't ask any more questions, nodded, and then asked again: "Zhongda, why are you from a rich family?" Sima Yi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I am different from them. They are all stupid people. Since ancient times, Since then, money, status, and power cannot guarantee the integrity of a family. Only His Majesty's gift is the foundation for the establishment of a great family. I want to survive, and like Mr. Yuan, I want the clan to continue to multiply. Therefore, I need it. His Majesty’s gift requires His Majesty’s trust.”
"This is also Chen's method, which is similar to that of Yuan Gong."
Liu Xi laughed. He was very happy for Sima Yi's honesty. He frowned and asked: "Zhongda, if one day you encounter the same thing as Mr. Yuan, what will you do?" Will you bravely die?"
"I am not that noble"
Sima Yi said calmly.
Liu Xi didn't ask any more questions, nodded and said: "Then you leave, don't do too much, just give it a little beating. Be careful when doing things." Sima Yi nodded and left. Here, Liu Xi thought for a moment and then called Qi Yue over and asked him to tell Zhuge Liang to come to the Houde Hall. Liu Xi only waited for a moment in the Houde Hall before Zhuge Liang hurried over.
The two sat facing each other, and looking at Liu Xi's face, Zhuge Liang already understood that something big had happened in the court.
"Kongming Yuan Gong died, and he died together with his son."
Hearing this sentence, Zhuge Liang was as shocked as Liu Xi. He thought for a moment, then sat down and shook his head helplessly. Seeing his expression, Liu Xi was a little suspicious and asked: "Kong Ming doesn't seem to be the same." Don't you think it's strange??" Zhuge Liang shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, I learned about Yuan Tan's incident earlier, and I suddenly had a suspicion in my heart. Yuan Gong has been serving the clan all his life. If something like this happened, he Either he will die to express his ambition, or he will resign and return to his hometown."
Liu Xi nodded and said: "When Manchong came just now, Zhongda was also there. He said that there might be some articles in this matter and he wanted to investigate."
"Your Majesty, don't be deceived by him. He actually just wants to use this matter to deal with some of his enemies." Zhuge Liang shook his head and said disdainfully. Liu Xi didn't say much and said: "Now, the position of Sikong is vacant. , In Kong Ming’s opinion, who can take on this responsibility?” Zhuge Liang heard this and said without thinking: “Liu Bei and Liu Gong are good enough.”
Sun Jian served as Taiwei, Cao Cao served as Situ, and Liu Bei served as Sikong.