My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 811 My Great Qin is about to end

After Meng Tian left Changle Palace, he always had some concerns in his heart.

The Queen's idea sounded reasonable, but who would go with her to advise against the execution of Zhang Cang?

Zhang Cang and Xiao He are well-known in Xianyang City.

If I ask His Majesty the Emperor to kill them both, wouldn't that damage my reputation?

However, since Empress Feng personally gave me advice, I must not let her kindness down.

Meng Tian was thinking about this matter. When he returned home, he heard the retainers and scholars in the mansion say, "I heard that Censor Zhang and three other censors beat up Censor Zhou."

These were the scholars who were kept at home when his father was alive. Meng Tian usually made his own decisions, and he had his master Wei Liao to ask for advice, so he basically did not deal with these scholars.

After his father Meng Wu died, these people should have served Meng Tian, ​​but Meng Tian did not take their advice.

But Meng Tian did not give them any money to send them away.

Because when Meng Wu was alive, he advised his son to keep them, thinking that he would need them sooner or later.

Meng Tian didn't want to obey at first because this reason couldn't convince him.

But he considered that he was often away from home and had not been filial to his father. Especially when his father passed away, he did not see him for the last time. Instead, a group of scholars accompanied his father to spend the last part of his life, so he kept these scholars at home.

Basically, he used his own salary to support these scholars for free, letting them eat and drink for free.

At first, Meng Tian felt that he was fulfilling his filial duty, because he had no other way to express his guilt towards his father, so he had to do this.

But as time went on, this group of people spent their days eating and drinking, playing the piano, drinking and singing at home. Meng Tian was busy running around, dealing with military and political affairs, and was also responsible for the emperor's new policies and taking the lead in building state-owned factories. He was basically busy and overwhelmed.

So he was fed up with these people, and just after leaving the court that day, he was thinking about things. When he heard the retainers in the mansion actually said this about Zhang Cang, he couldn't help but stand up and shout.

"That's nonsense. Who is spreading rumors? I have told you so many times not to make up stories about others. And do you know who you are spreading rumors about? He is an official appointed by the imperial court."

"I just left the Dazheng Hall with Censor Zhang. How could he possibly go and beat up Censor Zhou?"

In Meng Tian's understanding, he just went to see the queen for a while. What could happen in such a short period of time?

Unexpectedly, the retainers looked at each other in bewilderment. They could actually sense the young master's dissatisfaction with them.

These retainers are not young, the youngest is sixty years old, but they are full of vitality and their minds are quick.

"General, you just came back. Didn't you hear on the way that the censors in the Censorate had a fight with everyone after the court session today?"

Meng Tian's face darkened. "Impossible. I left the gate of Dazheng Hall with Censor Zhang."

Meng Tian remembered it very clearly. He bowed to Zhang Cang when he left the house.

The other ministers were still looking at him in surprise.

But looking at these elderly men in their octogenarians, he seemed to suddenly understand something.

His face was like the dark clouds that solidified in the autumn sky, which were dispersed by the sunlight in an instant.

"But after I left the Daijoden, I went to see His Majesty."

The old men smiled at each other.

The old man with the cane smiled and said, "General, you have just returned. I don't think you have seen His Majesty."

Meng Tian was surprised, "Why do you say that, sir?"

"Since the general took over the post, he has never been proud of his high position. He always thinks twice before dealing with people. The people of Xianyang all know that the general is a loyal, filial and virtuous person."

"The general never takes the initiative to ask for an audience with His Majesty. Today is the first time he asked for an audience after the court session. Given the character of the current His Majesty, how could the general be allowed to come back so soon after he went to ask for an audience? At least he would allow the general to stay for lunch before coming back."

Meng Tian looked at the old man. His neck was like a turtle's, wrinkled, but his eyes were clear and bright.

Meng Tian bowed to the old man, first apologizing for his behavior, and then asked him for advice.

"This censor has always been famous. He has contradicted Your Majesty many times, and he has often had conflicts with the ministers in the court. I dare say that most of the ministers in the court have been offended by him."

"Today he angered His Majesty again in the court. I went to see His Majesty just for this matter."

"I wanted to ask His Majesty not to be angry, but before His Majesty could tell me, Censor Zhang had caused another disaster. Isn't this just adding fuel to the fire at a critical moment?"

Upon hearing this, the old men stroked their beards.

"General, do you still want to save Censor Zhang?"

Meng Tian originally thought that he had some chance of winning and could use his reputation to persuade the Queen, but he didn't expect that he would be so hopeless. He only went to see the Queen, but he actually beat Zhou Qingchen, and it was a group fight.

Meng Tian had a worried look on his face. Sometimes Zhang Cang really did things without considering the occasion or the time.

He always seemed to keep his head on his belt, thinking only about today and not tomorrow.

Like a soldier on the battlefield, he only thinks about whether he can survive today, and dares not even think about tomorrow and beyond.

Sometimes Meng Tian also felt that Zhang Cang always made people feel embarrassed because he did not give face to others and did not care about his own face.

This characteristic alone was enough to make all the powerful people in Xianyang city hate him, exclude him, and want to attack him.

"If this person is defeated here, I'm afraid no one in the court will dare to directly criticize His Majesty in the future."

What Meng Tian said is indeed right.

Qin II said so many high-sounding words, and the people were full of expectations and admiration for him.

This just forced the old emperor to abdicate and he took the throne. If even a minister of remonstrance like Zhang Cang could not stand it, then what he did before was to eliminate the treacherous officials. Doesn't this mean that Qin II was not able to surpass himself? The so-called elimination of treacherous officials was just an excuse for himself to take the throne.

This is definitely not good news for the people.

Perhaps this will cause Fusu's image in front of his subjects to plummet.

Moreover, if Zhang Cang was purged, wouldn't the means and methods used by Qin II to govern the court be the same as those during the reign of Qin Shihuang, cultivating private power and cracking down on public power?

Under the ginkgo tree, the elders advised Meng Tian, ​​"Zhang Yushi's crime is not punishable by death. It's just the difference between using him or treating him coldly. But for Zhang Yushi, treating him coldly is equivalent to being sentenced to death."

"But if the general stands behind Censor Zhang at this time, it is equivalent to standing with the Censor openly. What will the civil and military officials think of Censor Zhang when they see that you, the general, support him without hesitation?"

When Meng Tian thought of this, his eyes darkened.

He has always been slandered by some treacherous officials, saying that he is aloof.

To be honest, if it weren't for Zhang Cang and Xiang Li Che interfering in the front, he would probably be a thorn in the eyes of his ministers.

Once upon a time, he was merely ordered by the retired emperor to recover the territory along the Yellow River (i.e. the Hetao Plain), but he caused a great stir in the court and made everyone jealous of him.

This is the nature of human beings. Cousins ​​and clan brothers can't stand seeing you live well, and they always want to stab you when you are not prepared.

The most bloody and violent scene took place in the Qin court.

This place is filled with talented people from all over the world. Without family background and support, it would be difficult to make it.

A rootless person like Zhang Cang was actually thriving in Xianyang City. It was obvious that he was blessed and promoted by Emperor Qin II, which naturally made people more jealous.

But he was just like a fool, as if he had never realized this problem. It was as if he never thought that the fact that he was favored by Qin II was something that others should be jealous of.

Therefore, the more he gave advice and attacked and criticized other ministers, the more others hated him.

But if I help him openly, I will be bringing trouble upon myself.

At this time, Meng Tian didn't know what to do. Before meeting these retainers, Meng Tian hadn't thought so much.

All he thought about was how to get things done, how to assist the emperor, and how to fulfill his duties as a subject.

Meng Tian thought that pleading for Zhang Cang was just a piece of cake, because he had recommended believers like Zhao Tuo in the past and helped many talented but powerless people avoid persecution by treacherous officials.

"Your Excellency has been promoted to the rank of Grand General, commanding all the armies. Not only does your influence in the court no longer compare to before. Your Excellency should not be so naive."

"To be in the position of a general, one should be trembling with fear, treading on thin ice, as if facing the abyss."

"Even for things like this, we need to think carefully."

After the old men finished speaking, they stood respectfully by the side, waiting for Meng Tian to make a decision.

The ginkgo trees in autumn are covered with falling petals in a riot of colour.

Yellow leaves fell on Meng Tian's shoulders and then slid down from his towering chest.

"General, trees grow too straight, so they can be easily made into lumber."

Unfortunately, the simple-minded Meng Tian did not understand the true meaning of these words.

The wood grows too tall and straight, so it is easy to be made into lumber.

The fate of wood is actually much better than that of people. Why? If wood is too straight and is targeted by people, it can still be made into lumber after being cut down. However, if people are too straight and offend others, they will not even have the chance to become lumber, and more often they will pay the price with their lives.

Meng Tian did not understand the good intentions of these gentlemen in saying this to him.

But he thought of the Queen's idea.

"I know how to do it."

Meng Tian said goodbye to everyone and went back to his study to write a memorial.

Although Meng Tian was upright, the queen was gentle in nature and she knew Qin II's character and thoughts too well.

The more people say that such things cannot be done, the more he will want to challenge himself and give it a try.

Zhang Cang had just had a few drinks with someone when he was immediately arrested.

Several imperial censors wanted to save him but had no chance.

Zhang Cang was thrown into the Xianyang prison.

The Xianyang Pavilion Chief who was guarding the prison was quite surprised to see that it was Zhang Cang. He still remembered clearly the last time he was released.

"Censor Zhang, you are here again."

Zhang Cang had a gloomy face and was unwilling to talk to anyone.

Looking at the familiar people and the familiar cell, Zhang Cang reluctantly stepped into his own old cell.

The Xianyang Pavilion Chief immediately arranged for him to stay in the best cell where he had been held in the past and prepared good wine and food for him.

The jailer on guard even greeted Zhang Cang in a familiar manner.

But this time something was different. Zhang Cang didn't talk to anyone, and it seemed like he had no intention of going out again.

No one knew what Zhang Cang was thinking. He just sat facing the wall silently, without eating or drinking.

There has always been turmoil in Xianyang City.

After you sing, I will appear.

Chen Ping was busy cleaning up the mess for Xiangli. He was fed up with these honest and upright officials. They raised their arms and made passionate speeches, earning themselves a lot of fame, but they caused troubles that he, Chen Ping, had to deal with.

Chen Ping felt that he was like an old mother who always chased after naughty children and cleaned up their butts.

Taking advantage of the opportunity when the emperor was touring the Imperial College, Chen Ping seized the proctor's handle and dragged him and a group of legalists and scholars out for a drink and chat.

I gave them a lot of gifts and finally appeased them.

At the same time, the students in the Imperial Academy had already written their own memorials, and basically every one of these children had been personally instructed by their elders at home.

Only Lin Changnian had not started writing even though everyone else had submitted theirs.

Because it was a remonstrance, it could only be read by the emperor and a few eunuchs, and the academic supervisor had no way of reading it in advance.

But when he saw Lin Yannian's lifeless look when he submitted the last memorial to the emperor, he felt that this kid must have written something nonsense.

But this little ancestor is also a capable person. The emperor actually knows him.

The school supervisor did not dare to interfere with him anymore and honestly handed in his letter of remonstrance.

On this day, Qin II read the largest number of remonstrations since he ascended the throne.

"What's the memorial?"

"It's clearly a way of praising the merits of the people. I think these disciples of the Legalist School will all be extraordinary in the future."

"Some people even use Qin Fu when writing articles. They want to become doctors in the future."

Qin II read one remonstrance and threw away another.

To be honest, Fusu also loved reading articles. There were so many talented people in Xianyang City. The ancestors in the pre-Qin period had very advanced ideas, and the principles they talked about were very practical.

Fusu originally thought that he could see hope for the future of the empire in this group of disciples, but the results disappointed him greatly.

I thought these disciples would write some practical suggestions, talk about their views on the new policy, or mention their own shortcomings, but not one of them pointed out their own mistakes.

Instead, the articles they handed over were full of talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality. Fusu frowned as he read them.

"If the Qin State's schools are filled with people who dare not tell the truth, our Great Qin State will be in danger!"

Sima Wuyi was serving quietly at the side, and as he listened, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes and stare at Qin II.

He had never seen anyone so shameless.

Fusu felt somewhat unhappy when he saw these messy memorials.

As I was reading, I actually saw a letter of advice that was only written in three columns.

It says that Zhang Cang behaved without pretense, spoke in a simple manner, and devoted himself to the Qin State. If someone killed him, he would be condemned by his subjects.

"Who is so bold?"

This slam of the table frightened the eunuchs on both sides so much that they dropped the pens they were holding.

When he looked carefully and found that it was Lin Yannian who left his name, Qin II didn't say a word.

He silently took the letter of remonstrance and put it aside.

The eunuchs were curious.

After that, Fusu began to read the memorials from his ministers.

He really wanted to see who was not afraid of death and dared to scold him.

(End of this chapter)