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

Chapter 438: Coup d’état (Part )
Yang Jian's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was calm: "Your Majesty, we heard about what happened to Minister Zhang, and we are filled with emotion. That is why I came out with many common people and students to beg Your Majesty to show mercy with my humble body and my humble strength."

He lowered his eyes, so that people could not see the sharpness that flashed in his eyes.

"What's more, the Prime Minister only asked us to reflect on our mistakes behind closed doors. When the Prime Minister passed away, the ban was lifted and it did not continue until now."

He explained calmly, but everyone could hear the meaning in his words.

"I beg your Majesty to show mercy. The imperial examination is a matter of national importance to Dayu. It is a major event that benefits the country and the people."

"The Jianwu and Guozi subjects were split up, each occupying a quota. This is against the purpose of Emperor Tianwu's opening of the imperial examination. It is indeed a mistake left behind."

Yang Jian's voice was firm and powerful, gradually echoing in the open space in front of the palace gate.

The people around also heard what Yang Jian said. At this time, even the students of the Imperial College and other subjects could not say anything. After all, Yang Jian had brought up the "Emperor Jianwu" who had opened the imperial examination that year.

Isn’t it because Emperor Jianwu initiated the imperial examination that they can enjoy the convenience of the Imperial College today?

What's more, they didn't have the courage and ability to deny Emperor Jianwu.

A hint of mocking smile flashed in Zhang Annian's eyes. He looked at Yang Jian in front of him, his thoughts turning into various twists and turns, and finally turned into a long sigh.

This time, he wanted to use the people and Zhang Chun's affairs to guide and force many students such as the Imperial College to give up their places. In the future, all subjects would be merged into one, completely restoring the old system of Emperor Jianwu, and even creating a new system that could be passed down from generation to generation based on the old system.

In order to use this incident to build up his own reputation and further shrink the power in his hands.

Yes.

Zhang Annian's purpose in doing this was actually very simple. On the one hand, he really wanted to do something good, and on the other hand, he wanted to strengthen the centralization of power while strengthening the imperial power.

After all, the imperial examination system nowadays is too loose, and the local governments have too much power, so much so that some people who take the examinations in prefectures and counties even stay in the prefectures and counties to serve as officials after passing the examinations.

This actually took away part of his power as emperor and also took away the power of the central court.

This is something Zhang Annian would never allow to happen.

As an emperor, he naturally has the mission of maintaining the power in his hands, that is, the imperial power - but on the other hand, such decentralization of power is also a good thing to some extent.

So he was very conflicted, and finally made a decision after much hesitation.

And today, when he was using his "big net" to collect fish, someone inexplicably stood up and wanted to snatch part of his net and fish from his hands?

Just ridiculous.

But Yang Jian had already taken the initiative, and even Zhang Annian had no better way or choice at this time.

But what?
Zhang Annian smiled.

His face suddenly changed, and then he let out a long sigh. He walked in front of the people and into the snow. The dragon robe on his body was stained with some snowflakes, and looked a little dirty.

Zhang Annian's voice echoed in the open space.

"I know what you all mean."

He used "I" instead of "I". This way of referring to himself lacked some "majesty" but instead made him more approachable, which instantly made the people around him feel good about him.

Zhang Annian looked at the changes in the expressions of the people around him and laughed in his heart.

This was something that Yang Jian could never have expected.

In other words, it was something that Yang Jian, as a "subject", would subconsciously ignore.

Sometimes, if you want to show that you are considerate of public opinion and speak for the people, identity is particularly important.

If an ordinary minister showed concern for the people, the people would feel cordial but would not be too excited. But it was different for the emperor. Over the past few hundred years, the emperor had become a symbol of theocracy and supremacy.

All the people regard the emperor as their "king and father". They naturally have a feeling of awe and desire to get close to the emperor.

Now, if Zhang Annian just stands here and acts a little more approachable or down-to-earth, these people will be flattered and will forget about Yang Jian’s previous act of “petitioning for the people”.

The reason is very simple.

At the same time, two people are standing in front of you, one has a high status, but the other has a higher status.

They all did the same thing.

Which one do you think is more approachable?
Of course it is the one with a higher status, because you feel he is more superior.

Zhang Annian said calmly but with some guilt: "Our dynasty was founded by the people. Emperor Taizu founded Dayu because the world was in turmoil at the end of the previous dynasty and the people could not survive."

"During the reign of Emperor Jianwu, our ancestors created the imperial examination system so that the people of the world would not be trapped by the aristocratic families."

"This system has been passed down for hundreds of years, there will always be mistakes and omissions—"

He looked around at the people around him and explained slowly, using plain language: "After all, there is no one in this world who has never made a mistake, and there is no perfect system."

"I am also a human being, so I can make mistakes."

The first part of the sentence calls himself "Zhen" emphasizes his identity, and the second part calls himself "I" to bring the relationship closer.

"Since Emperor Jianwu, the imperial examination system has been frequently changed. I know this is problematic, but because the subject-based examinations have become a tradition, I dare not make up my mind to change it."

At this point, Zhang Annian walked directly to Zhang Chun's side.
The next moment, he did something that shocked everyone.

He helped Zhang Chun up, then stood in front of Zhang Chun and bowed to the people and Zhang Chun!
There was a sound of people gasping in shock all around, and all the people were stunned. They didn't even have time to react!

The next moment, Ying An, who had been serving Zhang An since he was a child and had now become his constant attendant, immediately said in a hurry: "Your Majesty! Why are you doing this!"

"This is not your fault!"

He stepped forward and wanted to help Zhang Annian up, but Zhang Annian remained bent over and did not move.

Ying'an's face was full of tears. He looked at Zhang Chun and the people and said, "Everyone, I have served Your Majesty since I was young. How could I not know Your Majesty's suffering? I was reluctant to say it at first, but now seeing Your Majesty like this, I really have to say it."

He ignored Zhang Annian's obstruction, looked at everyone, and said loudly: "Everyone, do you think that His Majesty does not want to reform the imperial examination system? Do you think that His Majesty wants to be trapped in the deep palace and set up these so-called actors, alchemists, and Buddhists?"

Ying'an's face was full of tears.

"The late emperor left an order for the empress dowager to assist in governing the country, and many matters in the palace are also controlled by the empress dowager."

"When the prime minister was still around, he was able to help Your Majesty, so the students of Jianwu University had a relatively easy life in those years." "But later, the prime minister's health deteriorated, and the queen mother had her own plans again. She bypassed Your Majesty and directly ordered the then Zhongshumenxia--"

At this point, Ying An glanced at Yang Jian, Su Wei and others standing there, and then said with emotion: "They set up the alchemist and actor classes, but in fact, those people are not your Majesty's disciples at all, and they don't obey your Majesty's orders."

With tears and snot, he recounted the suffering Zhang Annian had gone through over the years. The more he spoke, the more guilty the people around him felt, and their resentment about the difficult lives they had had in previous years gradually disappeared.

After all, this person has said that Your Majesty’s life is not easy either.

It’s all because of that Zhongshu Menshi and that old witch, the Empress Dowager!

correct
Who was the previous Zhongshu Menxie?

People's eyes gradually turned to Yang Jian and Su Wei, who had just spoken clearly and forcefully to advocate for the welfare of themselves and others.

If they remembered correctly, these two people were the so-called Zhongshu Ling from before?

Everyone's expressions changed.

So everything you said just now was false, and it's your fault that we're not living a good life?
The group of people looked at each other unfriendlyly.

Yang Jian paused, feeling helpless and emotional.

This was indeed true, but he also had an excuse. He immediately stepped forward and bowed his head to admit his mistake: "So that's how it is. When we received the order from the palace, we were also very confused. But after delaying for three or four days, we still didn't see any new orders from the palace, so we could only pass this matter according to the decree."

There was guilt in his voice and he was close to crying.

"It turns out that we have been deceived!"

The expressions of the people around changed again.

Oh, it turns out that I was deceived.

The Queen Mother, who was still in the palace, passively accepted the blame from these two people in front of everyone.

Zhang Chun was also "shocked" with confusion and fear on his face. He hurried forward to help Zhang Annian, who was still bent over, up, and said in a choked voice: "It turns out that your majesty has suffered so much!"

"As subjects, we don't even know about this matter. We are really failing in our duties!"

"Today, even if the late emperor left any instructions, I cannot bear it!"

"Your Majesty! The ancients once said that if a father is not kind, why should a son be filial? Moreover, the Queen Mother is not your biological mother, so why should you be so concerned about her?"

"I ask Your Majesty to take away the Queen Mother's power!"

The people around were also shouting angrily: "Your Majesty, please take away the Queen Mother's power!"

Zhang Annian's eyes were red: "Why are you doing this? Are you trying to force me to be unkind, unjust, and unfilial?"

Zhang Chun knelt there, bowed his head suddenly, and there were some snowflakes on his forehead.

"His Majesty!"

"In the past, Chen Zi once said to the Queen Mother Zhao and the First Emperor, once you become the emperor, you will no longer be a child. What unfilial words are there?"

"Back then, Chen Zi killed Queen Mother Zhao. If Your Majesty is determined not to take away the power from the Queen Mother today, I would rather die than go to Guandu and ask King Zheng of the Kingdom to come out and kill the traitor!"

Chen is a brick, he will be moved wherever he can be used.

After Chen was mentioned in this matter, the voices of the people obviously became more confident.

"Your Majesty! We are willing to go to Chen's house and ask King Zhenguo to come out of seclusion!"

A group of people had pleading expressions on their faces.

The snowstorm was even stronger at this time. The whistling cold wind swept everything away. Zhang Annian shed tears. Looking at the living beings, he could only whisper: "Well, for the sake of this world and all living beings, what does it matter if I bear the name of being unfilial?"

He turned around, faced the direction of the imperial palace and the Taimiao, and bowed slightly.

"Today, I swear by the emperor of Dayu and the spirits of my ancestors."

"The imperial examination will be set as one subject, and the content of the examination will be the code of law and the strategy for governing the country and ensuring the people's safety selected from the Jianwu Ceremony. If the emperors of later generations violate this, all living beings can do the opposite!"

"But he is not a traitor!"

"Today's oath shall be witnessed by heaven!"

"The mountains and rivers will not change, and the oath will not cease!"

Winter of the twelfth year of Wansui.

Kyoto, which had been bustling for many days, became quiet, and the news about the emperor's miserable childhood and his previous "stupidity" caused by the empress dowager spread across the country. Everyone knew that it was not that the emperor was a bad person, but that there were treacherous people around him and a wicked empress dowager!
And there are two incompetent officials - even if they were also deceived, so what? The emperor admitted his mistakes, but you don't? Since you admit that you are wrong, you are incompetent!

Yang Mansion
Dugu Xin looked a little unhappy. He looked at Yang Jian in front of him and whispered, "I wanted to reinstate you these days, but His Majesty used the people's complaints against you as an excuse to postpone it again."

"I'm afraid we'll have to wait a while longer for you and me to be reinstated."

Yang Jian's expression did not change. Instead, he sighed and said, "In fact, when that person named Ying'an said such cruel words in public, I knew that this was a trap set by His Majesty."

"His purpose was, on the one hand, to reform the imperial examination system so that new students could become true disciples of the emperor who could occupy high positions, and on the other hand, to restore his own reputation. In the end, he was able to confine the empress dowager to the deep palace. In the future, even if the empress dowager wanted to do something, the ministers of the previous dynasty would directly contradict her with this matter. People would not even think that the ministers and His Majesty were wrong, but instead that the empress dowager was wrong."

"Finally, he can delay the time it takes for you and me to return to the court."

"Even if it's only delayed for a year, Your Majesty will have enough time to gather a large number of ministers and truly form a pincer attack against us."

As Yang Jian was talking, he said with emotion: "You and I have underestimated your Majesty. Your Majesty's intelligence is probably among the best in history."

His gaze penetrated everything and looked towards the deep palace: "However, this battle is not over yet."

"It's still unclear who will win or lose."

Hall of Qinzheng

Zhang Annian looked happy. He looked at the memorial in his hand and said, "Ying'an, look at these people. Their expressions change so quickly."

(End of this chapter)