My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 654: The Crown Prince Gains Power
Wei Liao heard the news and hurried over. But when he saw Meng Wu and Feng Quji coming, he immediately took Wang Ao and turned around and left, saying to the people around him:

"You didn't see me. I wasn't here."

Feng Quji watched Wei Liao, the old rogue, run away as soon as he arrived. Feng Quji was both civil and military, and he actually found it difficult to agree with Liao's way of doing things.

Feng Quji felt that Liao was a little frivolous.

As for Liao, he felt that Feng Quji was hypocritical, pretending to be profound, superficial, good at pandering, hypocritical, and self-righteous...

The two people are completely unaccustomed to each other on a daily basis.

At this juncture, Liao abandoned Fusu and was about to escape, so Feng Quji naturally looked down on him even more.

Feng Quji walked faster and faster.

Judging from the noise, everyone was praising the emperor, which meant that the prince really had Zhao Gao killed.

"Something big is going to happen!"

"Something big is going to happen."

Feng Quji took a few steps and the muscles in his legs and feet began to twitch violently.

Afraid!

The prince killed the emperor's confidant, which is a rare event in ancient and modern times.

So Feng Quji staggered and Feng Jing could not help but frowning. He thought that Zhao Gao was just a eunuch after all, and he would die if he died. Would Your Majesty be willing to harm the prince for his sake?

Who is the prince? Is there anyone in the world who does not respect and admire the prince?

How is this possible?
This is a truth that any normal person can understand using their feet.

Not only Feng Jie thought so, but the Tiger Guards in Zhangtai Palace also thought so.

Don't forget that Fusu had just won the battle for power.

The Crown Prince and Zhao Gao are both dear to His Majesty. The Crown Prince came to kill Zhao Gao, and this is ultimately the Emperor's own business.

But if they had to choose between the crown prince and Zhao Gao, they would definitely choose the crown prince. If they offended the crown prince, they would definitely die in the future. But if they let the crown prince kill Zhao Gao, they would be trying to please the crown prince.

Did you know that Wucheng Hou Wang Li, Gongcheng Mao, and Tieguan Sima Chang (Sima Wuyi's biological father) were all giving gifts to the prince?

Now the prince is the popular choice and the general trend.

That's why they all responded to what Fusu said.

Meng Wu also walked quickly while wiping the sweat from his forehead. He was old, yet he actually went out for such a thing.

Actually, he was reluctant to come to the palace to see the emperor today. Remember, the Meng family came from Qi State and was deeply influenced by Confucianism. Meng Wu was more influenced by Confucianism than his two sons.

This means that when Ying Zheng was doing things like squeezing the blood and sweat of the people to satisfy his own selfish desires, Meng Wu, who was the Marquis of Che, was the first person to be secretly dissatisfied with him.

It's just that Meng Wu didn't like to get involved with others, so he didn't get too close to the Imperial Academy. It's hard to imagine how much damage it would do to Ying Zheng if the Meng family and the Imperial Academy stood together.

There are two reasons why Meng Wu did not advise Ying Zheng.

First, he was too old, with completely white hair and beard, while Ying Zheng was full of energy and had sharp and harsh words. Meng Wu was afraid of hearing the words "the general is old" again when he made his remonstrance.

Second, Ying Zheng can still benefit from the capital he gained when he was young and worked hard to govern the country.

There used to be a group of common people who had low cultural literacy, a narrow historical perspective, and no concern for the world, but were only eager to satisfy their own selfish interests. They jumped from the bottom to the middle and upper levels through the system of military merit.

During the more than ten years that Ying Zheng implemented his political measures, nearly one million Qin people benefited from them.

These millions of people are the backbone management of the Qin Empire today.

These people worship and respect Qin Shihuang. As they have become vested interests, they will naturally do everything for Qin Shihuang without distraction.

Meng Wu was clear about the situation and saw that Ying Zheng was heading down an irreversible path.

However, judging from the current situation, there are people who are more worried than he is about the empire that he and Wang Ben had created together.

That person was Fusu.
-
Of course, the interesting truth is only slowly beginning to be revealed.

In fact, in political struggles, death is always present.

The tiger guards around Fusu were all descendants or relatives of nobles.

Then the Tiger Guards around Qin Shi Huang, even though they were experts, were all selected from the common people and had no background at all.

But as time goes by, wouldn't it be possible that the leaders who are in charge of managing them have no ideas about their own future prospects?

In political competition, it is more often a competition of hearts and minds and power. As for those external outbreaks, they are just the result of the competition of power.

In the Zhangtai Palace, Zhao Gao's fat body was lying on the ground.

He seemed not dead, and his clothes still shone with a subtle luster. From a distance, Zhao Gao seemed to be just lying on the ground, still alive.

But the blood had already filled the copper river on the ground.

Ying Zheng was surrounded by Fusu and many of the Tiger Guards, accepting their praise.

Ying Zheng accepted everyone's praise with a smile, and his back teeth were almost broken.

Fusu also looked very respectful.

However, Fusu was actually very panicked. He didn't understand why his actions were supported by so many people.

Look at today, he couldn't even bring his guards into the hall.

But he accomplished such a great feat alone.

Zhao Gao really died.

When Fusu's anger subsided and his intention to attack Ying Zheng also faded, he suddenly realized that something was wrong with the group of Tiger Guards behind him.

"My Lord and Father, today's matter is really my fault..."

Fusu came back to his senses. He wanted to apologize and let today's incident be over.

But suddenly, Feng Quji, Meng Wu and others arrived.

As soon as Feng Quji entered the palace, he saw Zhao Gao lying on the ground, and Ying Zheng was surrounded by Fusu, the Huben Guards and others.

Just by looking at where Ying Zheng was standing from afar, Feng Quji actually realized where the problem lay.

This might cause a big incident.

Feng Quji stepped forward and immediately knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, congratulations. Zhao Gao was a treacherous man, and everyone has the right to kill him. Now that Zhao Gao is dead, the people of the world can return the good name of Your Majesty."

Ying Zheng suppressed the unhappiness deep in his heart.

He looked around at the Tiger Guards around him, but ultimately said nothing.

Meng Wu was standing at one side, and he said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, if you can agree to let the crown prince kill Zhao Gao, it will be a wise move that will go down in history."

"I admire you very much."

Meng Wu also bowed.

The Huben Guards all looked at Fusu's expression in wide eyes.

It would have been fine if he hadn't looked at it, but when he did, Fusu was frightened.

Fusu felt like a thousand horses galloping in his heart.

He never expected that the Tiger Guards of Zhangtai Palace would look at his face. Doesn't this mean... that they have openly surrendered to him?

At this time, Fusu had not yet had time to figure out the deep meaning behind this matter.

He just felt that he was awesome today.

He killed Zhao Gao.

By the way, where is Sima Wuyi? Come and record this matter for me.

Fusu suddenly remembered that he came here today to seek revenge.

Master, I have avenged you. Mother, I have finally killed the bad guy you were worried about.

But now, all three of them are gone.

Feng Quji and Meng Wu worked together to whitewash the incident and eventually covered it up perfectly.

The three men and the Huben Guards were all very calm and generous, giving enough face to the ambitious Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng was invited back to the throne by the three men and sat down. He never showed any anger.

He just sat on the throne, angrily scolding, "I didn't even know that Zhao Gao did so many bad things behind my back."

"He persecuted loyal and good people, excluded his peers, and concealed the virtuous. Each and every one of these is worthy of death. Fusu, you did a great job today."

Fusu listened and just got goosebumps all over his body.

Fusu knew that at this time he should raise his head and smile to flatter Ying Zheng.

But for some reason, he couldn't do it.

Fusu did not speak, but lowered his head. Feng Quji hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, today, I have cleared out the treacherous ministers around your majesty. I have risked my life just to save your majesty's reputation. Please understand your majesty."

Meng Wu didn't say anything.

Ying Zheng said with a smile, "I understand. I understand everything in my heart. It's hard for you two to come here."

Feng Quji understood Ying Zheng too well. He was blaming them for coming to protect Fusu and support him.

Ying Zheng added, "In fact, Fusu has already taken care of everything."

In other words, the two of you are here to tell me who you support.

I understand now.

The Huben Guards did not understand the hidden meaning of Ying Zheng's words, but Fusu, Feng Quji and Meng Wu knew it clearly.

"Your Highness is so loyal and filial today that our ancestors would be moved even in their graves."

"It seems that I won't have to take action in the future."

Feng Quji's heart began to beat violently as he listened.

Meng Wu also swallowed and felt a lump in his throat.

Fusu lowered his head. What Ying Zheng said was naturally a mockery of him.

But now that things have come to this, we can only try our best to guide it in a positive direction.

In fact, whether to kill Zhao Gao was something that Fusu had been hesitating about for many years.

Fusu was worried that he would not be able to control the situation after killing Zhao Gao.

But after I really did it, I finally felt relieved.

Previously, he had been wondering whether he could do it, whether he could take over Ying Zheng's plan and intimidate Ying Zheng's great ministers; how he would face the evaluation of future generations, and whether his descendants would repeat his actions after they succeeded to the throne.

All the entanglements disappeared at this moment.

Today is only the first day of the incident, so it shouldn't cause any disturbances. But there will probably be countless disturbances in the future.

From the moment Zhao Gao fell, Ying Zheng and Fusu both understood that they would not be able to maintain even superficial peace from then on.

A new storm has emerged, and I'm afraid no one can stand still any longer.

The three men were silent, and the other Tiger Guards were all looking at their leader, the spear-bearer Yang Ying.

"You all should leave. I have to attend to official business."

Fusu glanced at Ying Zheng, but the other party didn't look at him, but just pretended to look at the memorial.

Fusu walked in front, Feng Quji walked behind with a lot on his mind; as for Meng Wu, he guessed that he would have to hand in his resignation in a few days. Finally, the Tiger Guards followed him out.

The palace was still the same palace, but without a certain evil person, Ying Zheng sat on his throne and felt that there was nothing behind the seat.

There is an endless abyss beneath your feet and boundless darkness all around you.

Ying Zheng hasn't had that feeling for a long time.

The Tiger Guards all returned to their respective duties and stood guard at the side.

Ying Zheng did not kill them.

Because they were Ying Zheng's personal guards.

Do you know what this means? His guards rebelled temporarily in times of crisis and chose Fusu.

In other words, in the scene today where Fusu forced Zhao Gao to death, Fusu and the Huben Guards stood together, and Ying Zheng was alone.

Because Yang Ying, the halberd-bearer, had thought it through clearly. If Ying Zheng were to order the killing of the Huben Guards who were unfortunately on duty today, then they would help Fusu kill himself.

This is the law of survival in the palace.

Everyone has to react as quickly as possible in an instant to protect their own interests.

It has nothing to do with who is great and who is small.

They just want to save their own lives and their official positions.

So we will obey the orders of whoever has greater power.

Otherwise, the palace tragedy of the past will be repeated.

Don't underestimate every person of humble status, because they are every brick and stone of the foundation of the empire's magnificent palace.

Every brick and stone, at a special moment, could deal a fatal blow to the person in power.

The Tiger Guards were never straw men who only knew how to follow orders. They listened to what Ying Zheng said, did and who he met every day.

No one can judge better than them whether their Majesty is becoming more wise or more tyrannical.

Every time someone did something that displeased Ying Zheng, no matter if he was a palace maid mopping the floor, or a soldier supervising the repair of the palace walls far outside the Great Wall, or a general attacking Nanyue on the front line, their emperor would disregard human feelings, use the harshest laws to deprive them of their political treatment, and even kill them directly with the harshest criminal laws.

From the moment the common people in the world were changed to Qianshou, the "Qianshou" around Ying Zheng were already dissatisfied with him.

They are people, not blackheads!
He treated all the people in the world as slaves, just to serve him. He himself turned his past wisdom and bravery into a memory. Now the people around Ying Zheng only have dissatisfaction and hatred for him, without the initial respect and admiration.

The Tiger Guards around Ying Zheng probably already had this idea in mind.

Suddenly in the afternoon, the wind and snow became stronger, and the Tiger Guards were still on duty. From time to time, there were bursts of kicking, beating, and smashing sounds coming from the hall.

Zhao Gao's body was carried to Yongxiang.

His reputation as a traitor must be fulfilled in order to save Ying Zheng's reputation today. So in the cold winter with ice and snow, his body was first thrown into Yongxiang, then transported out of the palace and put on display at noon for people to see.

Meng Yi believed everything he heard and only listened to the superficial things. He thought that the Emperor had finally become enlightened. He was the first to urge the Court Justice Zhao Ying to immediately arrest Zhao Gao's family and clansmen, search his home, and imprison his family members.

When Zhao Ying saw that Zhao Gao was dead and the crown prince was in power, Meng Yi's behavior made him misjudge Meng's position and thought that Meng was also on Fusu's side.

【Zhao Ying is not Prince Ziying】

As a result, Zhao Ying immediately issued an order to hunt down Zhao Xianxian, Zhao Gao's younger brother Zhao Cheng, Zhao Gao's son-in-law Yan Le, and also imprisoned their servants for diagnosis and interrogation.

……

From then on, the power of Zhao Gao, who represented Ying Zheng's private power, was completely eliminated from the palace, the government, and the security department of Xianyang City.

Afterwards, King Ying Zheng of Qin was forced to embark on a political path that considered the people.

These matters will be discussed later.

However, the fact that Fusu assassinated Zhao Gao was of extraordinary significance, and the process was even somewhat unbelievable.

However, this incident meant that Fusu had gained the support of the palace guards of Zhangtai Palace, which was equivalent to putting a sword next to Ying Zheng.

After Fusu came back, he did not say anything to Sima Wuyi. However, Sima Wuyi and the historians pieced together what happened in the palace at that time.

They felt that Fusu's power was unprecedentedly strong, and they had a premonition that something big would happen in the Qin State in the future, and that the political trend of benefiting the people was irreversible.

So everyone came together to write this piece of historical material.
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[When the prince entered the palace, he saw a eunuch standing tall to the left of the First Emperor, holding a sword in front of him.

Zhao Gao held the Qin King's sleeve with his left hand and wept bitterly.

Before she reached him, the First Emperor was startled, stood up, and cut off his sleeves.

The prince said: "I came here for the sake of Qin's country and people, and I specifically killed Zhao Gao, got rid of the treacherous officials, and cleared the emperor's side!"

Qin Shi Huang shouted loudly and summoned the Tiger Guards.

The prince rebuked the Huben Guards and they stopped.

Later, the crown prince was promoted to high position.

The First Emperor also drew his long sword and held it in his hand.

The moment was urgent and the sword was hard, so I couldn't pull it out immediately.

The First Emperor expelled the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince expelled Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao led the Crown Prince and the Emperor back to the pillar and fled.

The Huben Guards were so shocked and caught off guard that they completely lost their composure and looked at each other in bewilderment.

The prince chased Gao, and Gao's soldiers panicked. The prince stepped on Gao's clothes, and Gao's soldiers fell to the ground. He was wounded sixteen times.

The First Emperor was about to return to his post and was so panicked that he didn't know what to do.

The prince replied: "Now we can make the people of the world clear my father's name!"

The Tiger Guards all agreed with the prince's words.

After the crown prince had beheaded Zhao Gao, the First Emperor watched him and was dazzled for a long time.

Afterwards, the censor Meng Yi impeached Taifu Gao for his past deeds, listed his crimes, and handed them over to the court judge, implicating more than 70 treacherous and corrupt officials of Zhao Gao.

All the ministers in the court were implicated by Gao, and in the end only Gao's relatives were executed. 】
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In the eyes of the ministers, the fact that the prince killed his confidant Zhao Gao in front of the First Emperor could be regarded as a landmark event in the prince's rise to power.

(End of this chapter)