The Legend of Shushan Xuanjian

Chapter 438
You can laugh at Mr. Lantai, but you can't understand the sound of Zhuang Sheng's nature. There are males and females in the just way.A little awe-inspiring air, a thousand miles of blissful wind.

——Excerpt from "Water Tune Getou Huangzhou Kuaizai Pavilion presented to Zhang Yuquan" by Su Shi

……

Regarding the issue of how to punish the traitors who defected to the enemy, there were two distinct opinions in the court.

Cui Qi, Chief Prosecutor, and Lu Chen, Minister of the Ministry of War, said: "Officials who surrendered to the rebel army and betrayed the country should all be executed in accordance with the laws of the country."

Li Xian, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, resolutely opposed it, and said: "The rebels captured the two capitals, the emperor rushed to Shu County, and the people fled for their lives. These rebellious ministers are all relatives of your majesty or descendants of honored ministers and veterans. Now they will all be punished with treason. Killing, I am afraid it violates the way of benevolence and forgiveness.

Moreover, the rebellion in the Hebei area has not yet been put down, and there are still many officials who have been coerced by the rebels. If His Majesty treats them leniently, it will encourage them to atone for their sins and change their ways.If they are all killed, they can only be forced to continue to rely on the rebels.

"Shangshu" said: "Only kill the culprit, and pardon the coerced followers." '

Cui Qi and Lu Chen are people who stick to the rules and don't know how to put the overall situation first, so they can only implore His Majesty for a holy judgment. "

……

The courtiers of the two factions fought fiercely with each other.

After arguing for several days, Emperor Suzong finally adopted Li Xian's suggestion. According to the severity of the crime, the rebel officials were divided into six grades and divided by the corresponding punishment: the heaviest beheading in the downtown area, the second most serious crime committed suicide, and the second severe beating One hundred sticks, and the last three will be sentenced to exile, relegation and other punishments.

The imperial court issued a decree on the same day: 18 people including the former Henan Yin Daxi Xun were asked to be executed.The former Prime Minister Chen Xilie and other seven people died in Dali Temple Prison; the rest were beaten with sticks outside the gate of Jingzhao Mansion for minor crimes.

……

On December 29, the intersection outside the northeast corner of the west city of Chang'an was empty for thousands of people.This is the place where the imperial court specially executes the criminals who seek treason.

Under the lone willow tree, when the heads of 18 people including the former Henan Yin Da Xixun fell to the ground, the crowd erupted into cheers and heart-piercing wailing...

Bai Fu squeezed out of the crowd with a gloomy expression.

……

A few days later, Bai Fu came to the Bashu Guild Hall again, and chatted with Huang Zhen about the punishment of officials who defected to the enemy.

Huang Zhen said: "I heard that a group of officials who defected to the enemy fled back to Chang'an from Ye County recently. At first, they heard that Guangping Wang Li Chu pardoned Prime Minister Chen Xilie and others, and they were very regretful. They regretted following the rebels and losing their reputation. Day and night Can't sleep, trying to submit to the court as soon as possible.

But when they heard the news that Chen Xilie and others had been killed, many rebels who were stranded in Ye County by An Qingxu gave up the idea of ​​returning to Chang'an.

It is said that His Majesty regretted it after reading these memorials. "

Bai Fu sneered, and said: "I don't think Your Majesty should care about it at all, let alone regret it. These traitors are deliberately making use of the problem.

The Taifu mentioned Chen Xilie and others in a previous letter: These people are prime ministers, and they eat vegetarian meals in the corpses. They only flatter and cater to the emperor, and never persuade the emperor's fault.Living in a high position, disregarding the safety of the country, he only seeks to be promoted to a position of honor and prosperity.When the rebels captured the two capitals and the emperor went into exile, these people were greedy for life and afraid of death. In order to seek wealth and honor, they surrendered to the rebels.

These traitors are not as good as pigs and dogs. What they have done is even disdainful for traffickers and pawns, butchers of dogs.

If these rebellious ministers could save their lives and even return to their posts as soon as they surrendered, what would the bloody Tang soldiers think? !

Heroes such as Lord Yan Gaoqing and Lord Zhang Xun were not valued in the peaceful and prosperous age, and they were relegated to petty officials.When the country was in peril, they relied on them to fight against the enemy bravely, guard the city, and pledge themselves to the country.Why does the imperial court treat the loyal and righteous people so harshly, but treat traitors so generously?If the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country knew, would they die with peace?
I think Li Xian, Minister of Rites, made the most just and fair request: According to the seriousness of the crimes of these people, the crimes and punishments of these people are divided into six grades, and the crimes and punishments are determined separately.Neither let the culprit go, nor wronged the low-level officials who defected to the enemy due to coercion.The measures are appropriate, fair and just, why should His Majesty regret it! "

After talking about this matter, Huang Zhen thought of something else, and said: "When the Supreme Emperor fled, Chang'an was in chaos. Princes, dukes, courtiers and officials, carrying gold and silver, fled in all directions outside Chang'an city.

Many local ruffians and ordinary people rushed into the palace and the mansions of princes and ministers, stealing gold, silver and jewels.There were even common people in the mountains riding their little donkeys to the Golden Luan Hall.After the mob had finished training, they set fire to the Zuozang Daying Depot.

As a result, many utensils in the royal ancestral temple and rare treasures in the left collection were lost to the people.Recently, His Majesty ordered an investigation.The soldiers of Jingzhao Mansion and Jinwuwei took advantage of the opportunity to search the residences of the people to fish in troubled waters and caused considerable disturbance.What's even more frightening is that Huihe soldiers also took advantage of the fire to loot and loot the people.Wherever they go, they are like locusts crossing the border, poisoning the people, comparable to rebels.

Alas, once the world is in chaos, it is difficult to restore the order of the past. "

……

The two were sighing and sighing, when they suddenly heard a commotion in the hall downstairs, and a group of people who looked like scholars ran into the Bashu Guild Hall in a panic.

Bai Fu took a closer look and found that they were his colleagues in the household department, and the leader was none other than Sun Yansi.

This group of scholars hid in the Bashu Guild Hall, still in shock.

With a sound of "Kang Dang", the gate of the Bashu Guild Hall was kicked open, and several Huihe soldiers with sharp knives rushed in like wolves and surrounded the group of scholars.

Then the Huihe soldiers who came in rushed into the inn in the guild hall, robbed the money, silver and drinks on the cabinet, and ran to the backyard to plunder cattle and sheep.What's more, they rushed directly into the guest room and robbed the belongings of the resident guests.

Huang Zhen was furious.Even when the Yan army occupied Chang'an, they did not dare to loot the Bashu guild hall so blatantly.

Huang Zhen flicked his robe, jumped over the guardrail, flew down from the upstairs of the inn, and stood in front of the Huihe soldiers.When the Huihe soldiers saw that someone dared to block him, they roared and swung their scimitars at Huang Zhen's neck.

Huang Zhen stepped aside, turned his palm into a knife, slashed at the Huihe soldier's wrist, and sent the scimitar flying.Without moving his upper body, he swung his leg backwards and kicked another Huihe soldier flying with a knife.

A centurion of the Uighur soldiers saw Huang Zhen's martial arts prowess, he whistled, and rushed into more than ten Uighur soldiers from the street, drew their bows and set up arrows, aiming at Huang Zhen.

Seeing that the shopkeeper was besieged, the guys from the Bashu guild hall poured out from all over the guild hall, and surrounded the Huihe soldiers with kitchen knives, wood chopping axes, poles, weighing hammers and other weapons.These guys are all good players of the Sichuan gang, and if they fight alone, even if there are ten times as many Huihe soldiers, they will not be opponents.

Both sides glared at each other, swords drawn.Seeing that a melee is imminent, I don't know how many people will fight blood on the streets.

"Teng Teng Teng", a Pian Pianjia young man climbed down the stairs.He nodded to the scholars and asked, "Brother Yansi, what's the reason?"

As soon as Sun Yansi looked up, it was Bai Fu, and he was determined.He pointed at the Uighur soldiers, indignantly, and said: "My lord, these gangsters wander around the shops in the name of shopping, but they are actually plundering. After picking out the goods, they never give money. If there are guys who come out to stop them, they will scold them at least In the most serious cases, the bones and tendons of the people are broken. There are some people who have their own seriousness, molesting young ladies in the street, and robbing women in broad daylight.

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I scolded him, I didn't want to be beaten up by them, I set off the eagles and chased the dogs, and chased him to this point. "

Bai Fu took a look, and sure enough, many scholars had bruised eyes and bleeding heads.

Bai Fu asked: "Where are the patrolling soldiers from Jingzhao Mansion and Jinwuwei? Why didn't they report to the officials?"

Several other scholars said angrily: "These soldiers patrolling the city are all cowards, they dare not provoke the Huihe people, and when they saw the incident, they hid far away."

"We have also practiced boxing and kicking for two days, but we are not good at martial arts, so we are not their opponents." Sun Yansi said helplessly.

Bai Fu nodded.

Bai Fu walked slowly in front of the Huihe centurion, who was full of beards and arrogant.Bai Fu asked, "Are you the leader of this group of people?"

The centurion of Huihe saw Bai Fu's yellow shirt and gauze hat, his handsome appearance, and his appearance as a literati, so he thought that Bai Fu was just like other scholars.

The centurion was contemptuous, put his hand on the handle of the knife, and said proudly: "So what? Wu, the scholar, get out of here!"

Bai Fu looked at the centurion's military uniform, crossed his hands on his chest, and said with a slight smile: "Bai Fu, General Dingyuan of the Tanghe Allied Forces, is five ranks higher than yours. Why don't you pay homage to this general?"

　Notes:
　　1. Bai Fu's remarks on the punishment of officials who defected to the enemy were adapted from Sima Guang's comments on this matter in Zi Zhi Tong Jian.

　　2. Li Xian, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, wrote the original memorial. Li Xianyun said: "The thieves were trapped in the two capitals, and the emperor went on a tour to the south, and the people escaped by themselves. These are all relatives of His Majesty or old descendants of Xun Xun. Today, they will all be executed for treason. Hebei is not peaceful, and there are still many officials who trap thieves. If they are broad enough to open the road of self-renewal; Reason.' Ji, Qi Shouwen, not in general, but His Majesty's picture."

　　3. The embroidered curtain rolls in the setting sun, and the water in the pavilion is empty.Zhijun is my new work, the windows are wet and blue.In Changji Pingshan Hall, there is a pillow in the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River, and there is no lonely bird.Recognize the drunken man's language, whether the mountain scenery is there or not.

　　A thousand hectares, all mirrors are clear, and Bifeng is down.Suddenly a wave rose, dancing a leaf of pasqueflower.The son of Lantai, who has not solved Zhuang Shengtian Lai, has male and female in Gang Dao.A bit of awe-inspiring air, a thousand miles of breezy wind.

　　——"Water Tune Getou Huangzhou Kuaizai Pavilion presents Zhang Yuquan" by Su Shi

　　
　
(End of this chapter)