Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 464 Yang Ye’s “Injustice” (Special thanks to book friend mpeiru for the monthly ticket!)

At the time of Si on November 5, the 33rd year of Kaixi, Yang Ye returned to Bian Jing after leading the Eighth Corps of the Longxiang Army for about three months.

Chai Zongxun rewarded the three armies at the Altar of Land and Grain.

After the entire army paid homage to the emperor, the chief eunuch Tang Qi held the imperial edict in his hands and read it aloud in full praise of the achievements of the soldiers of the Eighth Corps.

All soldiers in the army will be rewarded with silver starting from 100 taels, and their rank will be promoted three levels. Many of them will be transferred to serve as officers in the 17th to 25th Corps.

Soldiers killed in battle will be given a pension of 300 taels or more, the disabled will be given a retirement pension, and will be supported for life, with a monthly subsidy of 2 taels of silver.

The only thing missing was the reward from the Corps Commander-in-Chief Yang Ye.

After the whole army stood up to express their gratitude, Chai Zongxun stood on the altar and said:

"Yang Ye slandered the imperial edict and uttered complaints on his way back. He is to be dismissed immediately and tied up and kneeled outside the south gate of the imperial city to reflect on his actions!

Without my order, you are not allowed to stand up!"

When these words were spoken, the entire army was shocked, but no one dared to move.

While Yang Ye was shocked and stunned, a team of 1,000 Wudesi people in front of the Altar of Land and Grain walked into the arena, came in front of Yang Ye, and surrounded him.

Yang Ye took off the iron helmet on his head with both hands, bowed deeply to Chai Zongxun, and said with tears in his eyes:

"I have failed your Majesty's grace. I have a perverse temper and have complained about your Majesty's surrender of the three states to the Eastern Roman Empire. I am guilty!"

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

"Yang Ye, I know your contributions, but you only know how to use your military achievements to discuss state affairs, which is very disrespectful!
Go outside the Imperial City and reflect on your actions!"

After Yang Ye thanked the emperor and stood up, he allowed the soldiers of the Wude Division to remove his armor. He was left wearing only his underwear and his hands were tied behind his back. He then followed the soldiers of the Wude Division to the south gate of the imperial city, where he knelt down to reflect.

Chai Zongxun ordered Hu Yanbiqiu and three other army commanders to lead the soldiers of the Eighth Corps back to the Bian Jing military camp, and then he returned to the palace.

The news that Yang Ye was punished by the emperor and knelt at the south gate of the imperial city to apologize immediately spread in Bianliang.

The civil officials who had long been jealous of Yang Ye were overjoyed when they heard the news. Many of them took this as a breakthrough to strike at the power of the military generals, and gathered in the residences of important officials such as the Chief Minister Li Hang and the Second Minister Wang Dan to discuss the matter.

When the people of Bianliang heard the news, many of the simple and simple-minded people spoke up for Yang Ye. They even acted out the details of how the civil servants framed Yang Ye in front of the Emperor Chai Zongxun, and they described it in such a detailed manner that it seemed as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

When the people of the Yang family in Bian Jing heard about this, Lady Zhe, along with her two sons Yangui and Yanbin, and two daughters Yang Bamei and Yang Jiumei, also rushed to the south gate of the imperial city to meet Yang Ye.

Seeing that Yang Ye was just kneeling on the stone floor in front of the imperial city with his hands tied and no scars on his body, and that the soldiers of the Wude Division were just standing around watching and did not beat Yang Ye, Zhe Saihua and other members of the Yang family felt relieved.

Zhe Saihua and others fell in front of Yang Ye and cried:
"My husband made great contributions in conquering Khwarezm, but he was punished by His Majesty! I will risk my life to go to the palace and ask to see His Majesty to redress my husband's injustice!"

Yang Ye was furious and scolded:

"What do women know!
I was not careful in the first place, and I resent Your Majesty's will. Your Majesty ordered me to reflect on myself here, which is already a light sentence! Why did you bring your children here to make trouble?

It will only add to my sins! Why don't you leave now!"

How could Zhe Saihua be unwilling to leave? She and her children burst into tears. For a moment, the crying in front of the south gate of the palace was deafening, as if they had really suffered a great injustice.

At this time, the south gate opened, and the chief eunuch He Yao led dozens of eunuchs out, two of whom were carrying food boxes. Seeing the scene in front of him, He Yao frowned and scolded:
"Yang Ye, you stupid warrior!
Your Majesty's actions are profound and unfathomable, which is a divine intention to protect you!
You made your family into such a pitiful state in order to make the people of the world sympathize with you, Yang Ye, and say that Your Majesty is a tyrant, but is this your intention? ! "

Yang Ye was horrified when he heard this and said quickly:
"Eunuch He, I have absolutely no such intention!

It's all because of my stupidity that she didn't listen to my advice! Please, Eunuch He, drive my family away! I will be grateful to you forever!"

Seeing Yang Ye's anxious expression, He Yao's expression relaxed a little and he looked at Zhe Saihua and said:

"Zhe Saihua, you are a woman who doesn't understand the government affairs, why are you causing trouble here?

Why don't you take your children back home quickly?

Do you want to pretend to be wronged, make His Majesty bear the reputation of a tyrant, and really kill your husband? ! "

Although Zhe Saihua still didn't understand, she was afraid when she heard He Yao say that her behavior would kill her husband. She immediately held back her tears, stood up, and hurried away with her children.

After seeing Zhe Saihua and the other members of the Yang family walking away, He Yao sighed and said:

"Yang Ye, you are really a warrior, stupid and can't control your stinky mouth!
The civil officials in the court are extremely jealous of you, a surrendered general of the Northern Han Dynasty, who was granted a title and a nobility title!

During this expedition to Khwarezm, you acted on your own for the second time and disobeyed His Majesty's orders. The civil officials have reported you twice and ask His Majesty to punish you.

If it weren't for Your Majesty's holy will to protect you, and if it weren't for your insistence that you were a decisive person on the battlefield and had a heart of loyalty to the emperor and the country, you would have been imprisoned and tried for your crimes long ago!

Civil officials kill people with their mouths, which is much harder to prevent than your military officers killing people with swords. Don't you know that?"

Yang Ye was horrified. He realized at this moment that when he went to war, the civil officials in the court had attacked him twice. If it were not for the Emperor Chai Zongxun's strong protection, the civil officials would have framed him with all kinds of crimes. By now, the Yang family would have been confiscated and thrown into prison.

Yang Ye quickly bowed and said:
"I would like to thank Eunuch He for your guidance! What should I do now? Please give me some advice, Eunuch He."

He Yao waved his hand gently and said:
"Commander-in-Chief Yang, His Majesty is in charge, why are you panicking?
His Majesty was afraid that you would be hungry, so he ordered me to bring you a food box for lunch."

Two young eunuchs carrying food boxes came forward behind him, opened the two food boxes one by one, took out four dishes, a soup and a large bowl of rice, and placed them on the wooden lids of the food boxes, which looked and smelled delicious.

Yang Ye felt relieved. It seemed that Emperor Chai Zongxun was just pretending to punish him to appease the jealousy of the officials in the court and had no intention of taking his life. He immediately knelt on the ground and prepared to reach out for the bowl to eat.

Behind He Yao, two other young eunuchs came forward, each holding a small square stool in their hands. One was shown to He Yao, the chief eunuch in front of the palace, and the other was placed next to Yang Ye.

After He Yao sat down, he said:
"Commander-in-Chief Yang, His Majesty has ordered you to eat while seated, and then kneel down to reflect after you are done."

Yang Ye was touched, realizing that Emperor Chai Zongxun was worried that he was too old to kneel for a long time, so he immediately faced north to express his gratitude, then sat on a square stool to eat his meal.

As soon as he took a bite, he felt that the food was delicious and must be the meal that the emperor had ordered the imperial chef to prepare.

He Yao looked at Yang Ye wolfing down his food and couldn't help but chuckle. After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he said:

“General Yang is loyal to his country and has a straightforward personality, and your majesty knows that.

His Majesty said that he would use the punishment of Governor Yang to draw out the tactics of the civil officials in the court and see what they really want!

Therefore, Commander Yang should be prepared to kneel at the south gate of the imperial city for a few days. I wonder if Commander Yang's body can handle it?"

(End of this chapter)