fifth form

At the court, Anle Palace accused Zhao Wan, Wang Zang and others, but the evidence provided was not enough to overthrow a high-ranking official like the imperial censor.

This plunged the court into a tangle of accusations and defences.

There is the decree of Anle Palace, and there is also the fact that Shen Peigong kept talking about the future prospects when he visited Weiyang Palace to induce the new emperor.

The New Emperor is the weight in the middle.

No matter how he targets it, many things always require his nod to get over it openly.

The new emperor was indeed in a dilemma for a long time.

No matter which way he chooses, he loses.

But the new emperor never thought that he had a third way.

This path allowed him to comply with the will of the Anle Palace, but also showed a certain degree of political skill, and would not arouse the wariness of the surrender school. Even most of the Confucian monks placed in the imperial court could continue to maintain his position.

Zhao Wan and Wang Zang are indeed clean and self-sufficient, and even if the Anle Palace forcibly investigates, there is insufficient evidence.

However, in order to attract Confucian monks to the imperial court, these two men not only involved illegally collecting money (Confucian monks donated money as officials), but also involved placing officials into the imperial system beyond their authority.

These things are relatively common in the imperial court. Even if the new emperor personally recruits talents, many people will be recruited.

But the new emperor made a public announcement when recruiting talents for the third time, which is also the reason why he can stand firm.

More important is the revealer of this wave of information, which involves Kong Zhong, the leader of the honorary school of Confucianism.

It is one thing for others to accuse, but it is another thing for Kong Zhong to accuse.

If the imperial court did not intervene, this would be almost equivalent to an internal fight within Confucianism.

The new emperor's face changed slightly, and he felt that Kong Zhong's short figure looked cute no matter how cute he looked. It was like a fire brought by this cold winter, which almost dispelled most of the chill in his heart.

"You failed to protect the late emperor's burial mausoleum. This is indeed a serious crime against the nine tribes." The new emperor said slowly: "But I think that Zhao Wan and others have been improperly employed, and you have come to plead guilty on your own initiative. There is still room for this matter." Negotiable."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, your majesty. May your majesty live forever!"

Kong Zhong knelt down and shouted thanks.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and felt that the death penalty was over.

If he hadn't listened to others' advice, he felt that he would have died without knowing how.

Digging the grave of Kong Sheng is an unforgivable grudge, and digging the grave of His Majesty's father is no different.

Kong Zhong must say that the new emperor has a very broad mind. The new emperor accepted things that he couldn't accept anyway, and even showed mercy to them, a group of people who didn't care enough.

"You need to record today's gains and losses against Zhao Wan and Wang Zang before you can be acquitted," the new emperor said.

"In respect of His Majesty's will, we can write it now and also draw it," Kong Zhong said loudly.

"I can wait!"

Du Wencai and others followed and shouted.

This made the new emperor nod in agreement, and then asked the eunuch to provide silk cloth for Kong Zhong and others to illustrate and seal.

"You were guarding the late emperor's tomb in Yangling. Why did you suddenly think of coming to Weiyang Palace to confess your crime today?"

Seeing that Kong Zhong and others had written a lot of "evidences of crime" on the silk, the new emperor couldn't help but wonder why Kong Zhong and others had descended from heaven to such an extent.

"Today Dong Simamen's carriage commander Dongfang Shuo came to take office. He warned us after patrolling Yangling." Kong Zhong replied honestly: "He said that we had caused a big disaster, and we are not officials of the imperial court at this time. Firstly, we have no jurisdiction over farmland and water conservancy, and secondly, we have no ability to lead troops to fight, let alone the ability to govern the country. People like us will not have the slightest impact on the court when we live or die. We don’t need to consider it when we are executed. We heard this I was afraid of saying anything, so I had no choice but to come and beg for mercy before His Majesty issued the decree!"

"That's it?" The new emperor was surprised, and it was even more difficult to understand.

These Confucian monks who had never been officials were naturally managed within the Confucian school. When Shen Peigong, Zhao Wan and others would recruit Kong Zhong back was a Confucian matter. The new emperor could only take pity on Wei Wan and others who were seriously injured, and then withdrew the Yangling ambush in advance. .

But the new emperor really didn't think about beheading Kong Zhong and others. He even forgot about this group of people.

Besides, when he re-emphasized Confucianism and cut off the honorary Confucian school leaders, wouldn’t that be antagonizing Confucian scholars all over the world?

Accordingly, Zhang Xuezhou’s words are simply untenable.

Even the new emperor found it difficult to understand why Kong Zhong and others believed Zhang Xuezhou's evil deeds and went to the palace to beg for mercy.

If the head was really going to be chopped off, how could the court give people the possibility of running to Weiyang Palace to beg for mercy.

"This is simply ridiculous. What was Dongfang Shuo thinking? How could I do such a thing? It's okay if this nonsense spreads out!"

Zhang Xuezhou's accidental collision helped the new emperor solve the problem, but the new emperor felt that it was necessary to warn this guy that he should not interpret the affairs of the court in such a blind way. If the other party adds fuel to the fire and publicizes it, it will bring him a lot of unnecessary trouble. .

"Come here, go to Simamen in the east of Yangling and the Eighteenth House in Laoshu Hutong to summon Dongfang Shuo to me. If he is ill and difficult to walk, you have to carry him over to me!"

The new emperor waved his hand and motioned to the young eunuchs to bring this troublesome little tail.

Regardless of whether Zhang Xuezhou was carried out of the palace two days ago or whether he needed to be carried into the palace today, he had to give this guy a warning to avoid causing trouble when he was desperate.

"Your Majesty, what about us?"

"It's rare for Sect Leader Kong to enter the palace, so I can't lose my etiquette!"

The new emperor arranged for someone to recruit Zhang Xuezhou, which made Kong Zhong and others raise their heads.

If it's done, it's time for them to go.

But before Kong Zhong left, the new emperor smiled slightly, then stepped forward and held Kong Zhong's hand.

"Come, let's have a banquet. I will get drunk with Sect Leader Kong today before we retire," the new emperor said.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager do not allow you to drink," the young eunuch reminded.

"I can't drink. Why can't I invite Sect Leader Kong to drink?" The new emperor said displeasedly: "You slut, go and have a banquet and treat me favorably!"

"Yes!"

If he were someone like Zhang Xuezhou, he would have gone away after listening to the new emperor's words.

But Kong Zhong did not let go, and also held the new emperor's hand tightly.

At this moment, he only felt the glory of Kong Sheng shining on him, and he gained the glory of hundreds of years ago.

That was how they were treated with courtesy by the monarch at that time, which was completely different from the current situation when they were being manipulated by Zhao Wan and others.

"Your Majesty is truly a benevolent king!"

Seeing this, Kong Zhong couldn't help but praise him.

This was an unexpected gain from the banquet hosted by the new emperor, and it made him feel much better.

He doesn't need a bad mouth like Zhang Xuezhou, but he needs a good mouth like Kong Zhong.

As long as Kong Zhong could publicize his reputation for kindness and righteousness everywhere, even if he said a few or five sentences to everyone he met, his reputation within Confucianism would definitely have a good publicity effect on him, and he could continue to resolve the relationship between the court and the school. contradiction.

After thinking about this, the new emperor only felt that there was a bright future in the dark. The depression in his heart continued to fade away, and there was even a bit of a sincere and happy smile on his face.