Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 437: Coup d’état (Part )
Generally speaking, stupid people are laughed at by others.

But people who are stupid to a certain extent, to the point of being "simple", will be admired by people.

That is a spirit of doing something even though you know it is impossible, and this spirit is often called "faith."

At this moment, "Zhang Chun" is such a "benchmark" among the people and in the court. When the news of what he did spread to the people and the court, people, whether or not they were hurt by Zhang Chun's proposals, were cheering for him.

Dayu needs a Zhang Chun like this.

A "fighter" who dares to fight, a fighter who dares to point out the unreasonableness of the emperor and even the previous generations of emperors.

Storms and clouds are gathering.

People's thinking is slowly changing.

This incident caused by "Buddhism and craftsmanship" eventually expanded to a level that no one could have imagined.

Guandu
Li Yuan was somewhat speechless. He looked at Chen Zhan, who was leisurely eating beside him, with a look of bewilderment on his face. "Is this the movement the teacher mentioned?"

He looked at Chen Zhan and asked softly, "The emperor needs a reason to thoroughly reform the imperial examination system so that this system, which should be a good one for selecting officials, can be preserved for a long time and no longer be constrained by the emperor's preferences."

"So he would rather be misunderstood by the world?"

"Is this the Long Live Emperor?"

Chen Zhan peeled the orange in his hand and took a bite slowly.

Most of the oranges that can be eaten this year are stored in the fall and are not that fresh, but at least there is one that is edible, so it is not too disgusting.

He said slowly: "Who knows?"

"Perhaps the emperor just wants to consolidate his power?"

Chen Zhan stretched lazily: "That's why I don't want to get involved in the fight between Yang Jian and him. I don't think it's necessary. If the fight between the two of them can still be controlled, then the fight between me, Yang Jian, and your majesty is something that is really uncontrollable."

Li Yuan agreed with this point.

After all, when Chen is not leaving the field, he can still be a referee. But when Chen also leaves the field, who is qualified to be Chen's referee?
Everyone could only be forced to accept Chen's decision.

But the key point is that the head of the Chen family, Chen Zhan, does not know whether his decision is correct.

So he chose to leave directly a year ago.

Back to Guandu, back to the perspective of this "onlooker".

Li Yuan scratched his head and said, "Actually, I should be hoping that my uncle will win, but then I think it doesn't matter to me who wins."

"After all, I am now the Duke of Tang of Dayu."

Chen Zhan laughed dumbly: "Yes."

His gaze penetrated everything and looked towards the distant palace, and his voice seemed a little low.

"So, this fight will depend on which of them has the better strategy."

Chen Zhan closed his eyes.

From the current perspective, it was the emperor who took the initiative and used the "Imperial Examination Incident" as an inducement to let his true confidants do what he wanted. When this matter spreads, those "students" who were instigated will begin to regret it.

Among them were those from the Imperial College and the Alchemist classes.

They will regret that they were able to easily obtain official positions in the past by relying on their "professionalism", but now after this incident, not only did they get nothing, they also lost their original "quota" and "opportunity".

The winter of the twelfth year of Wansui was very cold, but Zhang Chun did not feel it as he knelt on the ground.

The reason, of course, is that he had already made preparations before he came.

He had two thick knee pads tied around his legs as he knelt on the ground to prevent his knees from getting injured, and he was also wearing a cloak that was strong enough to keep out the wind and rain.

The emperor would not treat his own people unfairly, he had already prepared everything.

Every noon, there would be "self-willed" people who were fed up with the emperor's "stupidity" and would come spontaneously to bring food to Zhang Chun.

On the first day, a messenger arranged by the emperor arrived.

And once there was a precedent, and that precedent was not pursued, everything went smoothly.

Common people, court officials, and eunuchs in the palace kept coming to give Zhang Chun things.

On the fifth day, a student in the Imperial College could no longer endure the condemnation of his "conscience" and gave a speech in the center of the Imperial College.

He stood there, his eyes sharp and his voice as loud as a bell.

"Everyone, I really can't stand the looks from others."

His voice was almost choked with sobs: "I know that some of us are very dissatisfied with Minister Zhang's proposal. After all, after the quota for the Imperial College is cancelled, you and I will not be able to take up official positions so easily."

"But, to be fair, when people ask us about our backgrounds, do we really have the nerve to say that we are students of the Imperial College? Who wouldn't despise us for not having any abilities?"

He waved his arm and said, "If we really don't have this ability, it would be fine, but we are obviously talented and have ambitions in our hearts. Why should we endure such painful accusations?"

"So I think that this incident and Minister Zhang's proposal are actually a good thing for us!"

"A great thing!"

"Let us prove our good deeds!"

"Everyone, although we are students, we are still "people". Now the people don't know that Minister Zhang needs a "petition from the people", but don't you know it?"

He walked down the stage with a determined look on his face.

"Even if I get hurt, I will still do it."

There was solemnity in his voice.

"I'm going to collect petitions from the people for Minister Zhang!"

"Such a good official should not be buried!"

"You and I are well-read, so why should we be afraid of the so-called Jianwu scholars?"

After saying this, he turned away.

These words directly alarmed the current Imperial College Priest. This famous scholar in Dayu looked at the figure walking further and further away with tears in his eyes and whispered: "This is truly the backbone of our country!"

In the twelfth year of Wansui, there was a heavy snow in winter.

It was the sixth day that Zhang Chun knelt on the ground.

Because of the call of the Imperial College student "Zhang Qiao", some students of the Imperial College began to flock to the people of Kyoto. They collected "petitions from all people" for Zhang Chun, hoping that Zhang Chun could be forgiven by the emperor and that Zhang Chun could have a "good reward".

When the common people heard that they needed to "sign" themselves, those who could read wrote their names on the notes, while those who could not read copied the students' strokes and then stamped their thumbs on them.

They long for such good officials to continue.

They hope that such good officials can continue to serve.

In the twelfth year of Wansui, there was a heavy snow in winter.

The snow is getting heavier and heavier.

This was the eighth day that Zhang Chun had been kneeling on the ground. A large number of people had gathered outside the palace gate. They all knelt on the ground, kneeling together with Zhang Chun. They looked in the direction of the imperial palace, hoping that their "king and father" would stand up.

They didn't want much, they just didn't know if their father could give it to them.

Winter of the twelfth year of Wansui.

Heavy snow fell for five days in a row, and the weather became increasingly cold. Countless cold air masses crossed numerous dangerous areas from the south and arrived in the capital city of Luoyang.

The weather in Henan Province, or in Kyoto, has always been like this.

Among the four seasons, spring and autumn are vague, and the temperature difference between summer and winter is huge.

Qinzheng Hall
Zhang Annian sat there, flipping through the memorial in his hand, but judging from the expression on his face, he did not concentrate on reading it.

The eunuchs who served him beside him also tried their best to serve him carefully. Everyone knew that the emperor must have been in an extremely bad mood these days.

They dared not open their mouths to give advice.

Because the last eunuch who advised the emperor had been dragged out and beaten to death with sticks.

That was the seventh day that Zhang Chun knelt on the ground.

One of the eunuchs may have thought that Zhang Chun had the support of the common people and the ministers in the court, and the emperor would definitely not be able to defeat him, so he advised the emperor to bow his head.

The next moment after the attendant uttered this, the emperor's tea bowl hit him on the head. After that, this poor attendant, who could have been called the "Prime Minister", was turned upside down by the "road soldiers".

At that time, the emperor told the attendant that if he did not collude with those ministers and aristocratic families in the court, then he would be given a way to live, but if he accepted money from those aristocratic families, then he would have no way out.

The final result is obvious.

The eunuch lost his head - in a very cruel way.

"Cough-cough-"

Zhang Annian covered his mouth and coughed twice, then looked at the attendant beside him, frowned and asked: "How many days has Zhang Chun been kneeling outside today?"

Liu Anfu carefully took the handkerchief from Zhang Annian's hand, then put it away. While pouring tea for Zhang Annian to clear his mouth, he carefully thought and said, "Your Majesty, today is the tenth day."

Zhang Annian laughed at himself: "Today is already the tenth day?"

"I heard rumors outside the palace that the continuous heavy snow in the past few days is a punishment from heaven because I did not listen to the advice of the ministers who advised me."

As Liu Anfu followed Zhang Annian outside, he whispered, "This rumor was explained by Chen's Mohist disciple. He said that the four seasons, rain, and snow are all related to the weather, and the weather will not change because of an ordinary emperor."

“This is God’s business.”

"Most of the people in the society trust this statement and do not believe the rumor."

Zhang Annian walked out, his feet on the white snow, with a hint of tranquility and indifference in his eyes.

"Is there any movement over at Guandu?"

Liu Anfu carefully guessed Zhang Annian's thoughts, and then said: "The report from the Taoist soldiers is that there is no movement in Guandu. However, after King Zhenguo returned to Guandu a while ago, he took in a disciple on a whim. He is the descendant of Li Hu, who was awarded the title of "Duke of Tang" for his meritorious service. His name is Li Yuan."

"Li Yuan?"

Zhang An asked in a young voice: "Is your mother Li Yuan from the Dugu clan?"

Liu Anfu lowered his head even deeper: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhang Annian's voice was erratic. He just frowned and asked, "Do you think he did it on purpose or not? Did he want to support Dugu and Yang Jian?"

Liu Anfu didn't dare to say anything. How could he get involved in such matters?
Our dynasty has learned the lesson of the previous dynasty's fall, so neither the constant attendants nor the ordinary eunuchs are allowed to interfere in court affairs.

But Zhang Annian didn't care at all, and snowflakes fell on the umbrella above his head.

"You just said it when I told you to. When did you stop listening to me?"

Liu Anfu could only be more careful: "Your Majesty, I think that King Zhenguo may not have that intention."

"After all, the young man did not reveal his identity at first, and King Zhenguo was not aware of it at first. It was just that the two of them had a pleasant conversation, and only later did he accept him as his disciple."

"So King Zhenguo probably didn't mean that."

Zhang Annian turned around and said, "Should there be none?"

He was very disdainful: "Maybe."

"But it doesn't matter whether that's the intention or not."

He nodded at Liu Anfu and said, "Prepare the carriages and go with me to welcome our great hero, the backbone of Dayu."

Having said that, he turned his head and walked away.

Outside the Palace

Zhang Chun knelt there, knowing in his heart that this might be the most critical moment.

This is the tenth day, and a big show is about to begin.

He needs to enrich his spirit and perform this big drama well.

In the crowd

Yang Jian, Su Wei, Dugu Xin and others stood there, looking at the figure in front of them in the heavy snow.

Su Wei asked in a low voice: "How can you be sure that His Majesty will finally give in? You know, I heard a few days ago that His Majesty was furious with the eunuch who advised him, and he directly ordered the eunuch to be beaten to death!"

Yang Jian looked at Su Wei in confusion, and said helplessly: "Then you probably don't know that when the emperor was young, that eunuch bullied him many times. Although the late emperor left an imperial decree to let them continue to serve as eunuchs, our emperor has always been narrow-minded."

"Do you really believe that someone who can forbear to carry out such a plot would be someone with a bad temper and unable to control his emotions?"

"When His Majesty first ascended the throne, although the Prime Minister was there to support the front court, the situation in the harem was also very serious. His Majesty used the four words 'unstable moods' to kill all the confidants that the Queen Mother had placed around him and the ambitious eunuchs who tried to control him, and finally let his confidants take power."

"How terrifying such a person is."

There was a look of excitement in Yang Jian's brow.

Although he and Zhang Annian are rivals, they feel like they are evenly matched.

"Let's go."

"The time has come."

Guandu
When the cold winter wind blew, Chen Zhan placed a chess piece somewhere.

He said to Li Yuan beside him: "The struggle is about to enter the most exciting stage."

"Long live the Holy Spirit—"

"bye--"

The eunuchs walked in front to clear the way, and the young emperor in dragon robe walked step by step in the wind and snow.

Finally, he walked in front of Zhang Chun and looked at Su Wei, Yang Jian and others who were kneeling together with a smile.

"Weren't you two ordered by the Prime Minister to reflect on your mistakes in the palace?"

"Why are you coming out now?"

(End of this chapter)