I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

Chapter 552 Let me, the white-haired person, give the black-haired person away? ! You aristocratic families should bleed and drift away first!

It’s the first day of March in the 17th year of Dingxin, and there are only two days left before this year’s Shangsi Festival.

Since late February, peace has begun to return to Chang'an City, and no new turmoil has occurred.

Although the emperor was still ill, he lived alone in the Xuanshi Palace for a long time, neither seeing the courtiers nor managing politics.

However, under the auspices of the cabinet, everything went smoothly, administration was not stagnant, and the system set by the emperor remained unchanged.

The king of Guangling, Liu Xu, is still resisting in the capital of Guangling. It will take a long time for the 30,000 Changyi Lang to return to the capital.

However, under the command of Chang Hui, the rebels of Guangling King Liu Xu were at the end of their strength, and their defeat was almost imminent.

The source of the witchcraft case was not found out. Some of the suspects captured by Zhi Jinwu and Ting Wei were minor players and of no value.

However, no more witchcraft was found in Chang'an City, and even because of several big ropes, the streets became more peaceful.

The assassination case also went unsolved. The Yushifu impeached a group of military officials for leaving their posts without authorization, and that was the end.

However, there were no new assassinations against the emperor and courtiers. Fan Zhi seemed to be an isolated case among the remnants of the Huo Party.

The Huo bandits of the Sanfu generation still come out to cause trouble from time to time, but they have not completely disappeared.

However, there is no momentum to expand. Under the attack of the Southern Army and the Northern Army and the soldiers patrolling the city, it will eventually perish.

Bad news turned into good news in one "but" after another, and the big man seemed to be in peace.

The trade routes in the Western Regions were still very smooth, and the Hu people still led camels to trade goods in the cities of Chang'an.

The road on the sea was not cut off, and sailing ships transported porcelain, silk and tea out, and brought back gold and spices.

The immigrants from the Central Asia Protectorate, the Parthian Protectorate, and the Handong Protectorate outside the territory lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the officials and people of the Han Dynasty moved closer to farther places.

The fields, lakes and various workshops in various counties are still extremely busy, and the enthusiasm for creating wealth has not been affected in any way.

Wealth, technology, and science are all "growing" slowly but surely. Although it is not unprecedented, it is at least unprecedented.

After this brief turmoil, the 17th Dingxin Year seemed to be back on track, and the Han Dynasty began to flourish like the previous 16 "Dingxin New Years".

Most officials and people began to settle down and run their own businesses as in previous years.

However, in those corners that are not noticed by people, there are still rats and moths moving around, ready to gnaw at the foundation of the big man.

In the past, the emperor's holy light prevented these insects and rats from coming out and acting recklessly.

Now that the emperor is weak, he has given them the opportunity and illusion of self-righteousness.

How could they imagine that the emperor's weakness was just pretending to show them.

How could those eyes that had been sharp for more than ten years just close?

The emperor is just waiting for the last chance.

……

At Chenshi, the Xuanshi Palace was still dark as usual, and the smell of the decoction and medicinal stones was still as strong as usual.

Liu He sat on the imperial couch and quietly read a letter sent by Liu Bing, the governor of the Western Region, and Han Liu.

At this time, his complexion was much better, or he had completely returned to normal.

But his neck is still wrapped with a white bandage. This and the smell of medicine in the temple are his best cover now.

Nowadays, word has spread throughout Chang'an City and Weiyang Palace that the emperor is seriously injured and may be in danger of his life.

This is the result Liu He wants.

The letter in his hand was three or four pages long, and it contained everything that had happened in the Western Region Protectorate during this period.

The first thing is that Zhang Pengzu rebelled.

This person is leading more than a thousand people to Chang'an City with a false edict, preparing to come back to confront Zhang Anshi, which means that Zhang Anshi's conspiracy has no turning back.

The second thing is that the Western Region Protectorate was stabilized.

Liu Xiang and Han De arrived at the Western Region Protectorate on time, and they helped Liu Bing take control of Wulei City.

Although there are envoys in embroidered clothes to inquire and monitor from all sides, Liu He is not omniscient and omnipotent.

He only predicted that Zhang Pengzu would start an uprising in the Western Region Protectorate, but he could not guess the details.

So a month ago, he just issued a few different orders to Liu Bingji and the others.

One is to let Liu Bing be wary of Zhang Pengzu's rebellion and protect his son Liu Zhe.

The second is to ask Han De and Liu Xiang to lead their troops back to support, both to help Liu Bingji and to guard against Liu Bingji.

Fortunately, none of these three people disappointed Liu He.

Liu Bingji's loyalty and the dedication of Han De and Liu Xiang were the reasons for the stability of the Western Region Protectorate.

The third thing is that Liu Bing has confessed to Zhang Anshi and others' "surrender" against him and sent the original letter together.

Liu He was also stunned by Zhang Anshi's price. He did not expect that this cautious cabinet bachelor would be so short-sighted and his methods would be so decisive.

That price would make the big man "fall apart" and make Liu He's more than ten years of hard work go to waste.

The Western Regions, Central Asia and West Asia in Liu He's mind were not the lands of the Han Dynasty, but the real lands of the Han Dynasty.

According to Zhang Anshi's efforts, the Han Empire will definitely follow the path of the "Mongolian and Yuan Empire".

This makes Liu Bingji's loyalty even more valuable: the Liu family members who can resist this temptation can be regarded as a model.

However, Liu He was still a little dissatisfied with Liu Bingjia.

Liu Bing did not say clearly when he received this letter from Zhang Anshi, but it was two months ago at the latest.

Or earlier, when Liu Zhe came out to guard the border.

It could be as short as one or two months, or as long as six or seven months. Liu Bing should have reported this matter long ago.

There is only one possibility for holding back the performance for so long: Liu Bingji had doubts and hesitations in his heart.

This doubt and hesitation alone is enough to wipe out all Liu Bing's achievements and loyalty.

Liu He had reason to doubt Liu Bingji's motives.

Especially the fourth and fifth things mentioned in the letter made Liu Hesheng murderous.

The fourth thing is that Liu Bing has led 3,000 horses to Chang'an City to clear the emperor's side.

Liu He did not clearly state in the edict how Liu, Han, and Liu would divide the work after they met, but Liu Bing had already led his troops to serve the king, which was beyond Liu He's expectation.

At this time of chaos and confusion, it is not a good thing that Liu Bing has led his troops to Chang'an City.

Naturally, he said that he came to King Qin, but how did Liu He know whether he would fight back at the last moment?

This is the terrible thing about suspicion. In the final analysis, you can be suspicious of anyone.

Even if this person is your blood relative, even if this person has repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, even if this person has just expressed loyalty...

None of this prevents Liu He from doubting the other party: as the emperor, Liu He must also doubt the other party.

The minister made the emperor suspicious. This was not the fault of the emperor, but the fault of the minister.

After all, the temptation of Weiyang Palace is too great.

Liu He could clearly see the horror of "suspiciousness", but he could not overcome it. This was the most terrifying thing.

The alienation of people by power is also about this.

Of course, Liu He had no other choice but to believe that Liu Bing was already a "loyal minister."

Regardless of whether these four things are good or bad, Liu He views them as the emperor.

But for this fifth thing, Liu He was angry as a father.

This fifth matter is naturally a matter of Liu Zhe's life and death. Liu Bing did not conceal much about this matter and explained the cause and consequences of the whole matter very clearly.

When he talked about his "fake killing" of Liu Zhe, he sincerely apologized without hiding anything.

When Liu He read "The emperor's eldest son Zhe fell from the cliff into the water to test the plan", he felt a chill on his back.

Regardless of the fact that there were still Dai Zong and Fan Ke in the hall, he stood up from the couch at once.

His energy and blood surged for a moment, and he almost fainted.

He was afraid that he would read the words "The emperor's eldest son Zhe died".

If such an accident happened, it would not only mean that the Han Empire had lost its best heir, but it would also mean that Liu He's white-haired man would give away his black-haired man.

Regardless of his status as the emperor of Han Dynasty or his status as a father, such an accident is an unbearable consequence for Liu He.

Fortunately, Liu He didn't see the terrible word "薨" behind that sentence.

Liu He learned from the letter that Xu Guanghan had sent Liu Bing the news: Liu Zhe was out of danger and rushed to Chang'an accompanied by Xu Guanghan.

Seeing this, Liu He took a long breath, and then slowly sat back on the imperial couch under the surprised eyes of Fan Ke and Dai Zong.

This moment just now was the most panicked moment for Liu He in all the years since he ascended the throne.

Even when Liu He took more than a hundred Changyi men to seize the military power of the Zhongbao captain, he was not as panicked as before.

After the panic and fear in Liu He's heart subsided, the murderous intention in Liu He's heart became stronger and stronger.

He thought that Zhang Anshi would attack Liu Zhe, but he did not expect that the other party's plan would be so vicious.

The poison is to use Liu Zhe's loyalty and filial piety to his father to force him into a desperate situation; the danger is to let Liu's children fight against each other and kill each other.

For a moment, Liu He even wanted to summon Zhang Anshi into Weiyang Palace immediately, and then directly ordered the axe-hand to hack him to death.

But reason told Liu He not to do this. He wanted to get rid of all the elites from Zhang Anshi and the aristocratic family, and then eradicate them all.

"Bring the map!" Liu He said.

"Wei!" After Fan Ke finished answering, he hurried back to the back bedroom and took the map from the bookshelf.

Fan Ke unfolded the map and laid it on the table in front of Liu He, while Dai Zong turned on the oil lamp in the palace.

Under the dim light, Liu He identified the route from the Western Regions to Chang'an City, and traced his fingers across the counties one by one.

On the way from the Protectorate of the Western Regions to Chang'an City, there was naturally the eyes, ears and help of "Zhang Dang", both overt and covert.

Liu Zhe and Xu Guanghan's goals were too big, so naturally they couldn't use the pavilions openly and openly. It would be difficult for them to get through various cities and passes.

This means that their progress will be slower and slower, and they may even be "evicted" by Zhang Pengzu behind them.

Liu He knew his son very well, and he was also a smart man. He would try his best to run faster.

Based on this calculation, it is very likely that Zhang Pengzu and Liu Zhe arrived in Chang'an City at the same time, and the date may be the Shangsi Festival.

As for the reinforcements that Liu Bing had led, they were faster than Zhang Pengzu because they had one man and three horses, and they could openly use the pavilions along the way.

Therefore, it is possible that Liu Bingji's troops arrived in Chang'an City only a few hours before Zhang Pengzu.

This year's Shangsi Festival, which is two days from now, happens to be the day when Party Zhang will hold a major event.

It looks like it's going to be very lively.

"Dai Zong."

"Wei Chen is here!"

"On the day of the Shangsi Festival, there will be chaos in Chang'an City. I am involved in the situation myself. I am not afraid of life or death, but there are a few important points that I need to pay special attention to."

"Your Majesty only needs to issue an edict. The ministers and envoys in embroidered clothes are always waiting for the edict. They are willing to die for the great man!" Dai Zong paused and said.

Liu He waved his hand, as if he wanted to dispel Dai Zong's concerns and worries in this way.

"There are not many soldiers available in Chang'an now, and I don't know how big a storm Zhang Anshi can cause..."

This is a truth. The Embroidered Clothes Messenger is not omnipotent and cannot target every corner of the big man.

Liu He was able to judge Zhang Dang's tendency to rebel, but he couldn't see through all the details.

Just like the specific time of Shangsi Festival, I still learned it from Liu Bingji’s letter.

This is the risk Liu He takes. As the defensive side, he will always be somewhat passive.

Fortunately, now that I know the specific time point, I can take more initiative.

Of course, he still wants to know more details about Zhang Dang's uprising, but I'm afraid it will be difficult to get there.

What Liu He can do is to use the existing information to make arrangements in advance and prepare for a rainy day.

"I can't send more soldiers, so I can only send some loyal ministers to these important places to take charge of the overall situation..."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Dai Zong said sincerely.

"Send a secret edict to the people I mentioned!" Liu He said.

"Wei!" Fan Ke prepared pen and ink on the small case and prepared to draft a secret edict.

"Order Wang Ji, a scholar in the cabinet, to enter the Weiyang Palace on the Shangsi Festival and go to the Jiaofang Palace to give lessons to the second son, the third son and the eldest princess, and at the same time, be prepared for any emergencies."

Now that Huo Chengjun is living separately in Mingguang Palace for the time being, it is absolutely impossible to have no one in charge of affairs in the palace. Letting Wang Ji go to Jiaofang Palace will most reassure Liu He.

"Instruct the cabinet scholar An Le to go to Mingguang Palace last Si Festival to inspect the damage to the palace and pavilions, and to prepare for any emergencies."

Although Anle likes both heads and rats, he has been loyal in the past ten years. With him staying in Mingguang Palace, he should be able to keep Huo Chengjun safe.

"Order Tingwei Chen Xiu to go to the imperial prison on the Shangsi Festival to interrogate the suspects in the witchcraft case again, and at the same time, be prepared for any emergencies."

"Order Kong Ba, the imperial censor, to go to the county jail on the Shangsi Festival to retry the assassination suspect, and at the same time, to prepare for any emergencies.

There are many prisoners in these prisons, which are good places for conspirators to expand their troops, and they must be watched to death.

"Instruct Xie Lang, the master craftsman, to go to the arsenal on the Shangsi Festival to check the number of weapons and armor, and to prepare for any emergencies."

There are a large number of weapons in the arsenal, which can arm at least tens of thousands of people. It is also a critical place.

"The great tax collector Yu Wuyou..." Liu He couldn't help but hesitate for a moment as he said this, remembering some of Yu Wuyou's past events in Changle Palace.

Because of these past events, Yu Wuyou is now thirty-eight or nineteen years old, Shan is still unmarried, and has no children.

These past events were huge events in the past, but now they don't have much impact on the overall situation.

Liu He hesitated for a moment and then arranged a place for Yu Wuyou.

"Order Yu Wuyou, the chief tax official, to go to Changle Palace on the Shangsi Festival to report last year's taxation to the Empress Dowager Shangguan, and at the same time, to prepare for any emergencies."

Then, Liu He issued secret edicts and issued talismans to the remaining people in the same way.

Each of these edicts has a high-sounding excuse, but there is also the phrase "just in case something happens".

The courtiers under the imperial edict are all smart people, and they can see the profound meaning without being too obvious to remind them.

Liu He was talking and Fan Ke was writing.

When the former stopped, the latter also finished writing.

In just a quarter of an hour, Liu He completed the layout.

　Please subscribe!

　　

　

(End of this chapter)