The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

But on the other hand, the aristocratic families and powerful groups headed by Wu Pinghou collectively opposed the emperor's implementation of the three policies of dividing the land into acres, reverting fire consumption to the public, and integrating officials and gentry into paying grain. They first sat in silence at the door of the imperial study for seven days. The emperor originally thought that they could only sit for three days, and then they would pretend to be sick, but he did not expect that they sat for seven days, which surprised the emperor.

After seven days of sit-in and resistance, Wu Pinghou and his group all fell ill, and they collectively did not go to court. When the emperor learned that they were all sick, he sent an imperial doctor to treat them. The imperial doctor reported back that Wu Pinghou and the others were just tired and nothing serious happened. The emperor therefore rewarded them with tonics and allowed them to rest at home.

The King of Chu and others thought that Wu Pinghou and others would not dare to be sick for too long and would recover within four or five days at most. Unexpectedly, they were "sick" for a long time this time.

While Wu Pinghou and others were ill, some rumors suddenly emerged in the capital, saying that the emperor treated the aristocratic families and powerful people who had followed the late emperor harshly. Then, rumors spread about the heroic deeds of Wu Pinghou and others who fought for the Zhou Dynasty. In this story, Marquis Wu Ping and others were loyal to the late emperor and used their whole family to help him. By the way, in order to help the late emperor conquer the country, they sacrificed many people and spent a lot of money. In short, they are rendered very loyal, and then the emperor appears to be a bit mean and unkind.

These rumors were spreading in the capital, and some people were secretly adding fuel to the flames, causing the people to talk a lot.

After Sun Kui heard these rumors, he was very angry. After much hesitation, he decided to report it to the emperor.

Unexpectedly, the emperor looked very calm after hearing this, without any anger.

"Your Majesty, why aren't you angry?" Marquis Wu Ping and the others were so bold that they actually said that the Emperor was mean to them. "Your Majesty, these rumors must have been spread by Marquis Wu Ping and others."

"Why should I be angry?" The emperor was not only not angry, but also smiled.

"Ah?" Sun Kui looked at the emperor's face carefully and saw that the emperor was really not angry. He was very puzzled. "Your Majesty, Marquis Wu Ping and others are spreading rumors about you. Aren't you angry?"

The emperor did not answer Sun Kui's question, but asked with interest: "Do you think it was Marquis Wu Ping and others who spread the rumors?"

Sun Kui nodded vigorously: "It must be them, to resist your new policy."

The emperor stretched out his index finger and shook it gently: "It's not them."

"Ah, wasn't it spread by Marquis Wu Ping and others? How could it be possible?" Sun Kui looked unbelieving, "Who else would dare to do this besides them?"

The emperor pointed at himself, raised the corners of his mouth and said with a meaningful smile: "It's me."

After hearing this, Sun Kui's eyes widened in shock and he said with disbelief: "Your Majesty, you mean you sent people to spread those rumors?" What is the Emperor going to do? Besides, how can anyone find someone to spread rumors that are unfavorable to themselves? Now many people in the capital think that the emperor is sorry for Wu Pinghou and others, and some people say that the emperor is ungrateful and so on.

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I sent people to spread it."

Sun Kui asked with confusion on his face: "Your Majesty, why did you do this?" My good Emperor, many people are scolding you now.

The emperor winked at Sun Kui and said, "It's fun."

Sun Kui: "..." Hearing the emperor say it was funny, he actually thought it was normal. With the emperor's temperament, he can really do such a thing.

"Your Majesty, many people now think that you have treated Wu Pinghou and others badly." Sun Kui did not dare to say that someone scolded the Emperor.

"Aren't there still people who accuse me of being ungrateful?"

Sun Kui was shocked: "You all know."

The emperor said meaningfully: "I don't know anything."

When Sun Kui heard what the emperor said, he felt even more puzzled.

"You know this, why are you still doing this?" Even if the emperor finds it fun, you can't do it. "Your Majesty, this is not good for your reputation."

Hearing the word "reputation", the emperor's face showed a look of disdain.

"When have I ever cared about reputation?"

Well, he forgot that the emperor didn't care about his reputation at all.

"Your Majesty, it's not a good thing to be scolded." He is probably the only emperor in the world who seeks scolding like this.

"I am going their way and leaving them with nowhere to go." The emperor held his face with his right hand and smiled very treacherously. "How do you think Marquis Wu Ping and others will react after hearing these rumors?"

"They must be happy, and maybe they are secretly adding fuel to the fire."

"Then you are wrong." The emperor had a smile on his face, "Wu Pinghou and the others are panicking now."

"Marquis Wu Ping and the others didn't even have time to be happy, how could they panic?"

The emperor changed his posture, supported his chin with his right hand, and looked Sun Kui up and down.

"Have you forgotten your master's temperament? Do you think Wu Pinghou and others have the courage to find people to spread these rumors? Do they have the courage to secretly add fuel to the flames?"

When asked by the emperor, Sun Kui finally reacted.

"Wu Pinghou and the others don't dare." Wu Pinghou and the others knew very well that the emperor had a temper that was not easy to mess with. If they really spread rumors and put the emperor at a disadvantage, the emperor would definitely not let them go easily. Besides, this matter is essentially their fault.

The emperor smiled maliciously: "Now it's fun."

Sun Kui had just been very angry with Marquis Wu Ping and others for spreading rumors to frame the emperor, but after learning the truth of the matter, he now sympathized with Marquis Wu Ping and others.

Marquis Wu Ping and the others were really manipulated by the emperor.

The emperor had guessed it. After hearing the rumors, Wu Pinghou and others were not only unhappy, but also very uneasy.

If the emperor heard these rumors, he would definitely suspect them of spreading them and think that they were threatening him, which would be very detrimental to them. When they thought of the emperor's temper, Wu Pinghou and others felt frightened.

Originally they ignored this matter, but now that these things have happened, the emperor is afraid that he will not let them off easily.

Generally, emperors would be afraid of the threats from aristocratic families and powerful people like them, and then would step back and compromise, but their emperor was not afraid of them at all. If they hadn't been of some use, the emperor would have eradicated them long ago.

The emperor has not touched them over the years, mainly because they have not done anything that violates the emperor's bottom line. Their opposition to the emperor's implementation of three new policies, including the allocation of land to households and the return of fire to the public, had already angered the emperor. If the emperor suspects that they are spreading rumors to threaten him, the emperor will be very angry. Maybe the emperor will use this matter against them.

Thinking of the emperor's previous methods of dealing with those aristocratic families, Wu Pinghou and others became more and more frightened and uneasy.

The dignitaries who supported Dai Wang were not all idiots who only knew how to fight and had no brains. After they heard the rumors, they hurriedly went to Dai Wang to discuss.

"You really didn't send someone to spread it?" After hearing the rumor, King Dai's first reaction was that it was a rumor deliberately spread by aristocratic families and powerful people, in order to threaten and force his father to compromise.

"Your Highness, we really didn't spread the news." General Pingnan said with a grimace, "I wouldn't dare to do this even if I had ten more guts."

King Dai asked suspiciously: "Why don't you dare to do this?"

"If we really do this, the Emperor will definitely not let us go." General Pingnan frowned and said, "Your Highness, you have forgotten that those people in Yangzhou threatened the Emperor, but they were all killed by the Emperor. The Emperor does not like threats from others. How dare he and I dare to spread rumors and threaten the emperor." They were opposed to the emperor's implementation of three new policies, including the diversion of children into acres, but it did not mean that they were dissatisfied with their longevity and wanted to die.

"I thought it was you who did it, and asked where you got the courage." "Your Highness, I'm afraid that the emperor has heard these rumors and may have doubts about me. You have to help me."

"Even if I go to tell my father that it's not you who spread the rumors, do you think my father will believe it?" Dai Wang continued, "I'm afraid that other people won't believe it either."

General Pingnan looked panicked: "This... what should we do?"

The king asked: "If you didn't spread it, then who spread it?"

General Pingnan's face was full of resentment, and he gritted his teeth and said: "It must be Duke Anyang. He wants to kill me and others."

"Mr. Anyang?" Dai Wang pondered for a moment and said, "It's really possible that it's him. But do you have any evidence?"

"No."

Marquis Xuanping on the side suggested: "You should clear up the rumors as soon as possible. You can't let the people in the capital think that the emperor is sorry for you anymore."

"Yes, yes, what the Marquis said is true. I will clarify it right away."

"Father, I will go and put in a good word for you, but whether father believes it or not, I can't guarantee it."

General Pingnan said with a sad face: "This... what should we do?"

Marquis Xuanping pondered for a while and said, "Actually, there is a best solution."

When General Pingnan heard what Marquis Xuanping said, he looked at him with burning eyes and asked eagerly: "Master Marquis, what can I do?"

Marquis Xuanping said: "Don't object any more and compromise with the emperor obediently."

"But...if this is the case, wouldn't our previous opposition be in vain?" General Pingnan said with some reluctance, "Then wouldn't we be just like Duke Anyang?"

Marquis Xuanping glanced sideways at General Pingnan, "Do you really think your resistance is useful? Do you really think the emperor will pay attention to you?"

General Pingnan was speechless when asked by Marquis Xuanping.

The king did not speak.

Marquis Xuanping continued: "By doing this, Duke Anyang has forced you to a dead end. If you don't compromise, you know what will happen to you."

When they thought that Duke Anyang not only betrayed them, but also designed to frame them. General Pingnan was filled with hatred: "Mr. Anyang, this XXXXXXX..."

When General Pingnan cursed Duke Anyang with dirty words, King Dai and Marquis Xuanping said nothing.

"Is this the only way?"

Marquis Xuanping asked, "Do you have any other ideas?"

The Dai Wang looked at General Pingnan and advised him gently: "Your objections are useless, it is better to compromise with your father. When your father sees that you know each other, maybe he will stop arguing with you."

Marquis Xuanping echoed: "Your Highness is right."

General Pingnan sighed softly: "It seems that this is the only way."

King Dai looked at General Pingnan curiously and asked, "If there were not these rumors, how long would you plan to protest?"

"I don't dare to pretend to be sick anymore. I will go back to court in two days." How dare they pretend to be sick for a long time and not go to court. The emperor will not tolerate them. If they really don't go to court for several days, the emperor will definitely take the opportunity to replace them.

"You are quite sensible. If you continue to make trouble and don't go to court, my father will really not spare you."

"I know." General Pingnan stood up and saluted the king, "Your Highness, please put in a good word for me."

"The king will enter the palace shortly. You should hurry up and clear up the rumors."

"I will go now."

At this time, in the palace of King Chu, Yang Ling was also asking King Chu about the rumors.

"Your Highness, who do you think spread these rumors, Marquis Wu Ping and others?"

King Chu said: "It's not them, they don't have the courage."

"Then who do you think it is?"

The King of Chu guessed: "It is very likely that he is Duke Anyang."

Yang Ling smiled slightly and said in a meaningful tone: "I don't think it's Mr. Anyang."

When King Chu heard this, he raised his eyebrows slightly: "If it's not Duke Anyang, who is that?"

Yang Ling said nothing and smiled enigmatically.

The King of Chu instantly understood what Yang Ling meant, and said with astonishment on his face: "Father?"

Yang Ling nodded slightly and said, "Yes, it's the Emperor."

"Why did my father do this?"

Yang Ling said with deep meaning: "You kill two birds with one stone."

King Chu was stunned for a moment, and immediately knew the emperor's purpose of doing this.

"As expected of my father."

"The emperor's move is really wonderful." Yang Ling said with a smile, "Wu Pinghou and the others must be very uneasy now, and they will also doubt Duke Anyang. In order not to anger the emperor, they can only give up their opposition and compromise with the emperor obediently. .”

"Good advice, sir." King Chu did not expect this.

"Tomorrow, Marquis Wuping and the others will go back to court obediently." Yang Ling sighed, "Marquis Wuping and the others are being manipulated by the emperor and they don't even know it."

Emperor: Hehehe, it’s me.