A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 239 Chaos in government, sycophants

Bai Du left the palace and looked back at the majestic palace, already having some guesses in his mind.

Back at Duke Bai's Mansion, Bai Du asked his servants to go out and call someone.

"Zhang Meng has met Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai is safe!"

"Haha, Ziyou, we haven't seen each other for a long time. When I first met you, you were just a child and kept asking me to tell you stories. Why are you so unfamiliar today?"

Bai Du looked at Zhang Meng, who was saluting him with a respectful and solemn expression.

Zhang Meng, the grandson of Zhang Qian, was born in the Zhang family in Hanoi. He is currently the admonishing doctor of Guang Luxun Mansion. Seeing that Bai Du treated each other with friendship, there was no need for him to pretend.

"Uncle Shi is joking. You have watched me grow up. How can we be estranged from each other? It's just that my nephew has not seen Uncle Shi for a long time. The excitement in his heart cannot be expressed in words, and he is afraid of being rude. I can only repay him with a solemn appearance."

"Haha, that's right. I think back when my grandfather came back from his mission to the Western Regions, I was just an attendant beside Emperor Wu. Listening to him talk about all kinds of strange things in the Western Regions, I really yearned for it.

Your family and I have the same surname and are officials in the same dynasty. For the sake of the people of the world and the great Han Dynasty, we cannot be acquainted with each other. "

"Yes, listen to Uncle Shi." Zhang Meng said with a smile.

Baidu then asked about the Han Emperor and the eunuchs around him.

"Alas, Uncle Shi doesn't know. Now His Majesty likes to have fun and often ignores government affairs. Most of the government affairs reported to the government are done by Hong Gong and Shi Xian.

As a result, His Majesty's power has been reduced, and at the same time, General Xiao, Doctor Zhou and others were framed and imprisoned by two thieves. There is no one in the inner court who can check and balance them, and His Majesty trusts them very much. There is nothing we can do about it. "

Zhang Meng sighed and told Bai Du the inside story of the palace.

"Is it so serious in the palace now?"

Bai Du was also surprised. He always thought that this was a signal from the Han Emperor, but it turned out that these two thieves did it behind the Han Emperor's back.

Since the death of Emperor Xuan, all the descendants of the Bai family who held official positions in the inner court and the Guangluxun Mansion have been released, either to various yamen within the central government or to local counties, and the Bai family has kept secrets about the affairs of the inner palace. As a result, Bai Du was completely unaware of the situation in the inner dynasty.

"Snapped!"

"Hmph, how dare you, a little eunuch, betray your master and monopolize power, and disrupt the imperial court. Do you think that I, the Bai family, are all soft persimmons?"

Bai Du was very dissatisfied with eunuchs interfering in politics, "Confucius said: Only women and villains are difficult to raise. Don't deceive me, Ziyou. It seems that I am going to take action."

Zhang Meng heard that the Bai family, who had not taken action for a long time, was about to take action, and he said excitedly: "Since General Xiao and others were imprisoned, I have been like a headless fly, not knowing what to do. Now that Uncle Shi has come forward, I will definitely be able to clear things up." The eunuchs return the government to a bright future."

"You don't have to flatter me. If a capable eunuch, queen mother, or relative is involved in politics, it will not harm the country. Now that villains are in power and want to bring trouble to the world, it depends on whether I, the Bai family, will agree."

"Yes, my nephew is frivolous."

"Zi You, now that I have decided to leave the mountain, I have to rely on you to contact some people."

"Uncle Shi, don't worry, leave it all to me."

Bai Du nodded, feeling a hint of pride rise in his old body.

At night, Xiu Mu's Bai Ke returned to the mansion and went straight to Bai Du.

"Father, do we really want to take action?"

Bai Du said resolutely: "Of course, I, the Bai family, have not moved for many years because we are not needed. Since our ancestors have determined the rule of not ascending to high positions unless special, it naturally makes sense, and we must follow it.

Whether it is Empress Lu, Emperor Ren, Empress Ren, Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, Emperor Wu, Huo Guang, Emperor Xuan, Xiao Wangzhi, etc., they are all capable people. We only need to assist them well, and they can govern the world well.

Facts have proved that this path is correct. Compared with the late Qin Dynasty, today's world has reached its peak. I have seen the records of the Prime Minister's Mansion in the early years. Now the number of households in the world has exceeded 50 million. This was more than double the number of households in the early Han Dynasty, which was less than 20 million.

If we ignore the people and rely on God's gift and the power in our hands to compete for power with the Liu family, do you think the world will be so prosperous?
But the eunuchs who are in power now are incompetent and wantonly squandering the power in their hands, and His Majesty is also weak and incompetent. This is not a good thing for the world today. There are no other capable ministers or capable people to come forward. , don’t we have to rely on us to support it? Otherwise, why do you think we should sharpen our swords? "

Bai Ke understood, but was a little worried: "But His Majesty favors eunuchs very much, and we cannot use military force. Now His Majesty is in the right position and cannot replace him at will, so what should we do?"

Bai Du said quietly: "Now His Majesty is just incompetent, not tyrannical, and has a weak character. I think there is still hope, but it depends on each person's methods."
-
"You bitches, how dare you deceive me? Who gave you the guts?..."

The Emperor of Han uttered lotus flowers to Hong Gong and Shi Xian who were kneeling in the hall.

When Emperor Han had scolded him enough, Hong Gong said cautiously: "Your Majesty, we really don't know what is going on? I hope your Majesty will tell you."

"Hmph, what's going on with Xiao Wangzhi and the other three?"

Hong Gong asked doubtfully: "Isn't it true that those who ask for an audience will attract court officials?"

"Did you fart to attract the emperor? You put him in jail!"

"Ah!" Shi Xian's surprise was just right, "But didn't Ting Wei ask them to call them for questioning? How could they be imprisoned?"

Seeing the confused expressions of the two men, Emperor Han was a little undecided and said, "You don't know?"

"Your Majesty, you are unjust. The two slaves really didn't know anything. I really thought they were just asking them for questioning. But now that the matter has come to this, it is the fault of the slaves and others. Your Majesty, please punish the two slaves for their negligence." Seeing two people. People kept kowtowing to plead guilty, and the Emperor of Han softened his heart.

"Okay, you two don't know about it either. Let's forget it this time. Next time, I will definitely not let you wait lightly!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, Long En..."

"Comfortable!" Emperor Han couldn't help but feel this way as he listened to the two people constantly saying nice things.

"Your Majesty, General Shi Gao of Chariots and Cavalry would like to see you." An eunuch came in to announce.

"Xuan!"

"My chariot and cavalry general, Shi Gao, pays homage to your majesty. May your majesty live forever!"

"No gift!"

"What's important, uncle?"

Shi Gao said with a flattering look on his face: "I have searched for another woman. She is not only delicate in appearance, but also good at singing and dancing. As soon as I find her, I will come and tell His Majesty."

"Oh? Seriously?" Emperor Han looked interested.

However, when he saw the two people still kneeling on the ground, he said seriously: "Let's put this matter aside for a while. I'll finish dealing with these two people first."

Shi Gao stepped aside with interest.

"You two get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two people who got up exchanged secret glances with Shi Gao, and Emperor Han didn't know anything about it.

"Since it's all a misunderstanding, let's order Master Xiao and the other three to be released and reinstated to their original posts!"

"this···"

Seeing the hesitation on Hong Gong's face, Emperor Han said displeasedly: "Why, my words are useless now?"

"No, Your Majesty, I have heard about it from the side, and I have also heard about this matter in the outer court. I like Shu Ling and the two, but I am just worried that reinstating them rashly will damage His Majesty's majesty."

"How do you say it?" Emperor Han asked humbly.

Shi Gao put on a posture of thinking about you and said:
"Your Majesty, think about it, you have just ascended the throne and have not yet become famous in the world for your virtues. If you ask your master to be tested first, this will make the world criticize you. But now that you have put them in prison, If you reinstate them rashly, doesn't it mean that Your Majesty is wrong?
How do people in the world view you? Doesn't this damage your dignity? Therefore, I think that you should take advantage of the situation and issue an edict to pardon their crimes. This can reflect your magnanimity. When people in the world see that you can even pardon your own teacher who committed crimes, you must be a kind and virtuous monarch. Is it recognized by everyone in the world? "

The Emperor of the Han Dynasty said happily: "Okay, that's good. It must be the uncle of the state. This method is great. It can not only preserve my reputation, but also release Master Xiao and others. Isn't it the best of both worlds? When the time comes, As time goes by, can’t I just promote them further?”

Thinking of this, "Hong Gong, prepare a move immediately!"

"Here!"

So an edict was sent to the Censor's Office of the Prime Minister's Office: "Former General Xiao Wangzhi has been my master for eight years and has not committed any other crimes. It has been a long time now. His memory has been forgotten and it is difficult to understand. He can be forgiven." Xiao Wangzhi's crime is just to take back his former general Guanglu's seal, and to remove him from office and become common people together with Zhou Kan and Liu Xiang."

The three of Xiao Wangzhi, who had been imprisoned for several months, finally saw the light of day and returned to their respective mansions.

A few months later again.

The Emperor of the Han Dynasty issued an edict to the imperial censor: "The country will prosper, so we must respect our teachers and use our masters. Former general Xiao Wangzhi has been my master for eight years and taught me the classics. His merits are so great that he can be awarded the title of Marquis of Guannei." , food for 600 households in the town, additional gifts, meeting at court on the first and fifteenth day of every month, and the seat is second to the general."

This was the prelude to the Han emperor's intention to use him as prime minister.

Xiao Wangzhi's son, Sanqi Zhonglang Xiao Ji, always believed that his father was innocent and could not bear unjust injustice, so he wrote to the Han Emperor to complain about the past, and the Han Emperor assigned the matter to a responsible department to handle it.

However, Yousi had already been completed by Hong Gong, Shi Gao and others, so he replied to the Han Emperor: "The crime that Xiao Wang was convicted of before was clear, and there was no false accusation. Now he has taught his son to write a letter and quote innocent poems. This is It is unbecoming of a minister and disrespectful. Please allow the arrest."

Seeing this, Emperor Han hesitated, "What should I do? No, I can't put my teacher in prison."

Hong Gong and Shi Xiansu on the side knew that Xiao Wangzhi was a strong and honest man who could not bear humiliation, so they came out at the right time and suggested:
"Xiao Wangzhi, as a former general and assistant to the government, wanted to exclude Xu Zhang and Shi Gao and monopolize the government. Now he was lucky enough not to be convicted. Your Majesty, thinking of his teacher and student, granted him a title and a city, allowing him to Participate in political affairs.

Now he has not repented and admitted his crime, and is deeply dissatisfied. He instigated his son to write a letter and put all the blame on His Majesty. He relied on himself as a teacher and hoped that he would not be convicted in the end. If you don't throw him into prison hard to make him surrender and block his unconvinced thoughts, I'm afraid other ministers will rush to follow suit. By then, it will be difficult for Your Majesty. "

But the Emperor of the Han Dynasty said: "Master Xiao has always been upright, how can he accept the arrest of officials?"

Shi Xian said: "Since your majesty has said so, human life is of the utmost importance, and the crime Xiao Wangzhi committed must be dealt with. How about your majesty secretly tell him the crime he committed and let him deal with it on his own, and your majesty can follow the trend. Reduce his guilt. If you do this, you will have nothing to worry about."

"Very good!"

So the Han Emperor approved the suggestion of Shi Xian and others and asked them to deal with the matter.

Shi Xian and others handed the sealed edict to Ye, ordering him to hand it over to him personally when he summoned Xiao Wangzhi. He also ordered Taichang to send out the chariots and cavalry belonging to Zhi Jinwu to rush forward and surrounded the Xiao Mansion with great fanfare.

(End of this chapter)