I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 19 Are You Suitable?
The whole world is quiet.

Liu Ju glanced at Chen Guo and Zhang Liang standing beside him and said, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Zhang, do you have anything else to say?"

Chen Guo and Zhang Liang looked at each other with hesitation on their faces.

How could they not understand at this point that Liu Ju was determined to destroy the dikes and flood the fields, and he even did not hesitate to use the army to force the matter through.

At the same time, they knew it in their hearts.

As local officials, they are closely connected to whatever happens within their jurisdiction.

Now the time has come for them to choose sides. Making the right choice may not necessarily allow them to make further progress, but making the wrong choice will surely lead them to an irretrievable situation.

He pondered for a moment.

There was a tacit understanding and determination in the two people's eyes, and they bowed to Liu Ju together:

"If Your Highness insists on doing so, please tie us up as well."

"Okay! Guo Chang, help them."

Liu Ju did not bother to be polite with them and immediately waved to Guo Chang.

These two guys were indeed smart people. They neither chose to "aid the tyrant" nor chose to openly confront Liu Ju.

This way, no matter what happens, there will still be some way out.

Although Liu Ju saw that they had connections with the local wealthy families, he had no intention of killing them.

After all, it is not easy to be a local official these days. Many government orders cannot be implemented at all without the cooperation and assistance of local wealthy families. They are caught in the middle and feel helpless.

What's more, during the days since they came to Puyang, these two guys have made a lot of efforts for water control. Compared with others, they can be considered rare good officials.

By now.

Several "troublemakers" who took the lead in opposing the destruction of dikes and flooding of fields have all been dealt with, and Du Zhou, who had the power to veto this matter, was kept in the post station by Liu Ju on a pretext, and it was difficult for anyone else to bring enough resistance.

Seeing that things were developing in this direction, especially seeing Liu Ju's words and actions just now.

At this moment, Chang Rong's eyes were filled with confusion and strangeness when he looked at Liu Ju.

"Is this still the prince I know?"

Before this, although Chang Rong had heard Xu Jin's description, he also confirmed that Liu Ju planned to destroy the dike and flood the fields.

But these hearsays were far less shocking than witnessing the changes in Liu Ju with one's own eyes.

A few words made it difficult for Guo Chang, who commanded a large number of troops, to resist. A change of mind made Ji Ren, who resisted with his life, unable to speak again. A wave of his hand made Chen Guo and Zhang Liang, who were not firm in their beliefs, fall into the trap.

These measures should be drastic where necessary, and tough where necessary.

Upon closer thought, he revealed his superior wisdom everywhere and easily overcame the obstacles in front of him.

This is definitely not the prince he knows!

But at the same time, Chang Rong also had some expectations in his heart.

Without these obstacles, destroying the dikes and flooding the fields might actually be possible!
In this way, Liu Ju was handing the sharpest weapon in the world to all those who opposed him.

Even if the emperor wants to protect him, he cannot ignore the "sincere hearts" of the scholars all over the world and must give an explanation to the world!
"But if the prince wants to accomplish this, I'm afraid he will have to overcome a bigger hurdle."

Thinking of this in his mind, Chang Rong turned his head and looked at Tian Yong and other heads of aristocratic families who were standing in front of a group of common people.

The king of hell is easy to meet, but the devil is difficult to deal with.

These aristocratic and wealthy families often have a very broad mass base in the local area. Sometimes, a considerable number of the local people are tenant farmers or serfs who rely on these aristocratic and wealthy families for their livelihood, and they can easily be instigated by them.

Sure enough, it was just as Chang Rong expected.

Just when Liu Ju was about to give the order to take action.

"His Royal Highness!"

Those wealthy families who had previously been unwilling to take the lead could finally no longer remain silent.

A dozen or so family heads, led by Tian Yong, stepped forward as if they had discussed it beforehand. They ignored the mud on the ground and knelt before Liu Ju in unison. “We have heard that Your Highness is known for his kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and prudence. When he was in Chang’an, he often spoke up for the people and was praised and loved by the people of Chang’an.”

"Your Highness is so kindhearted that he would never do anything to destroy the livelihoods of countless people on the north bank. Therefore, we dare to risk our lives to petition for the people. We beg Your Highness to think twice. This dam must not be destroyed, Your Highness!"

The words fell.

"This dam must not be destroyed, Your Highness!"

Thousands of villagers gathered there seemed to be inspired, and immediately knelt down from front to back like waves of wheat and kowtowed to Liu Ju.

Their voices gradually became one and soon merged into one, sounding like the echoes of Tian Yong and others.

Such organizational and appeal capabilities should not be underestimated.

They were demonstrating and putting pressure on Liu Ju in this way, forcing him to reconsider their intentions.

It is better to defend the mouth of the people than to defend the river.

This is an issue that every ruler cannot ignore. If they fail to follow the will of the people, unexpected events may occur.

However, facing such a situation, Liu Ju just sneered, and after the voices of thousands of villagers died down, he looked at Tian Yong and others with a disdainful tone:

"Don't flatter me. I won't fall for it!"

"You want to represent the countless common people on the North Shore to petition for the people? Are you worthy?"

"???"

"???"

"???"

Tian Yong and others had never expected Liu Ju to react like this. They all looked shocked and looked up at Liu Ju.

Even the villagers who knelt down after them were all confused and looked at each other.

Liu Ju didn't care about that and continued to speak slowly:
"Let's talk about Patriarch Tian Yongtian first."

"According to my investigation, three years ago your Tian family only owned 50 hectares of good farmland. In just three years, the Tian family now owns 80 hectares of good farmland, an increase of more than 30 hectares."

"These thirty hectares of fertile land could not have appeared out of nowhere. They must have come from the people."

"Thirty hectares of fertile land, I can't count how much was purchased normally and how much was seized by trickery and robbery."

"I also cannot imagine how many people lost their land and were forced to become your tenants, and how many people became your serfs."

"Slavery is a cycle of life and death. These serfs will be your slaves from generation to generation. You will treat them like cattle and horses and drive them around month after month. Although their descendants are endless, they will never be able to raise their heads."

"You represent the common people, don't you?"

"In addition, the Huzi River breach lasted for nearly twenty years. During these twenty years, countless people were displaced. This was all thanks to your great grandfather Tian Fen. Your Tian family should be credited with the greatest contribution!"

"You represent the common people, don't you?"

"And you!"

"Master Wang Qing, the Wang family's land holdings have increased by 15 hectares in the past three years."

"Dongfang Chi, the head of the Dongfang family, the Dongfang family's land holdings have increased by more than ten hectares in three years!"

"Master Cao Nai Cao, the Cao family's land holdings have increased by more than ten hectares in three years!"

"..."

"Which common people do you people represent?"

"Fellow villagers, I have already investigated clearly before today. All the fertile lands on the North Dike have been divided up by these noble families."

"Some of you are their tenants, some are their serfs, and some are their servants. Although your identities are different, you have one thing in common: you are all ordinary people who have lost their land. Not an inch of the land destroyed and flooded by the North Dike belongs to you!"

"Even so, are you willing to be represented by these people?!"

(End of this chapter)