I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 531 I heard this rebellious son calling me!
Ganquan Palace.

This place is more than 300 miles away from Chang'an, so even though Liu Che was very concerned about this morning court session, he did not receive the relevant secret report until noon the next day.

"This rebellious son's epilepsy has recurred again?!"

After reading the secret reports, especially after learning about the two national policies that Liu Ju was promoting in the court, Liu Che, who was nearly sixty years old, almost jumped up from the dragon bed.

"..."

This time, Su Wen simply knelt down to present the secret report. Seeing this, he secretly groaned in his heart and lowered his body a little more.

He also couldn't figure out what Liu Ju was doing.

A few days ago, Liu Che left Chang'an on the pretext of illness. His original intention was to create a brief power vacuum so that Liu Ju could investigate the case freely, and to expose the true colors of Liu Hong and those traitors so that they could be caught in one fell swoop.

As a result, not long after he left, Liu Ju began to arrest alchemists and wizards, and even the alchemists and wizards kept by Liu Che in the Weiyang Palace were not spared.

This incident frightened the "gods" who were painting in Ganquan Palace under the emperor's order. They couldn't sleep all night and had dark circles under their eyes within a few days. Some of them even came to beg for their bones from Emperor Wu of Han. Emperor Wu of Han refused and one "god" even jumped into a well in the middle of the night.

However, Liu Che did not care about this matter.

After all, the "borrowing life ceremony" set up by Liu Hong and those traitors was directly related to the Nanyue wizard. Liu Che could naturally understand that Liu Ju had finally let go and planned to conduct a thorough investigation while he was away.

He also hoped that Liu Ju could find some key clues from these alchemists and wizards, and attack Liu Hong and those traitors at this morning court session.

No one could have expected the result.

Not only did Liu Ju not mention anything related to this matter at the morning court, but he unexpectedly came up with such a trick that really made a big hole in the sky? !
Although Su Wen did not have the duties and power to "take charge of the Shangshu affairs".

However, as Liu Che's closest attendant, he had reviewed and approved memorials to the emperor over the years. Even some key political affairs were often dictated by Liu Che and he drafted the edicts on his behalf.

Therefore, Su Wen learned a lot about Liu Che's views, policies and thoughts on many things.

Therefore, even if Liu Che did not say it, he was well aware of the problems with these two national policies and what significant impact they would have on the court.

Su Wen remembered that every time before Liu Che introduced a new reform decree, he would always mutter to himself:

"The Han Dynasty was just beginning, and the four barbarians were invading China. If I did not change the system, future generations would be lawless. If I did not go out to fight, the world would be in turmoil. Therefore, I should bear the hard work and leave a legacy to future generations. Even if I have to labor the people and waste money, wouldn't I be a wise ruler?"

Therefore, if this was really possible, Liu Che would have definitely done it long ago, and it would have been Liu Ju's turn to be the conspicuous one!
And Su Wen was sure.

Before this, Liu Che certainly had never thought that he only let Liu Ju take charge of the government temporarily, but Liu Ju would actually dare to start reforms directly, and it was a chaotic reform without considering the consequences at all.

Even Su Wen couldn't help but want to ask Liu Ju in person:
"Your Highness is already the Crown Prince, why are you still rebelling?"

After a moment of silence, Liu Che seemed to calm down a little, his eyes became more profound, and he suddenly asked:
"Su Wen, tell me the truth, do you think Liu Ju suffers from erratic epilepsy?"

"In reply to your Majesty, I have never felt that Your Highness suffers from epilepsy."

Su Wen replied quickly.

"Then tell me again, is Liu Ju mentally deficient?"

Liu Che asked again.

"Forgive me for being blunt. Although His Highness's actions are sometimes confusing, when we look back on His Highness's actions afterwards, we will find that he has clear goals in everything he does, and he always achieves his goals. Even if he sometimes makes Your Majesty angry, he always keeps within limits."

Su Wen pondered and said,

"Therefore, I believe that Your Highness is not a person without intelligence. On the contrary, Your Highness possesses extraordinary wisdom."

This is what Su Wen really thinks. Ever since Liu Ju suddenly opened up to him many years ago, this feeling has continued to deepen. Every time he looks back on a seemingly absurd event carefully afterwards, he will find similar details.

Even every time Liu Ju disobeyed Liu Che, it seemed to be planned and served a specific goal.

That's why Liu Ju was sent by Emperor Liu Che to control floods, to pacify Nanyue, to conquer Xiqiang, to Donglai to wait for gods, to the east to look for his daughter, to the Korean Peninsula to find overseas silver mountains, and to conquer the Western Regions...

Then, the destruction of dikes and flooding of fields turned out to be a blessing in disguise, the pacification of Nanyue led to the conquest of the entire southern Xinjiang, the destruction of the Western Qiang and the elimination of the Hexi Corridor, Liu Ju's creation and destruction of gods, Liu Che's linkage with the Taiye Lake, the thorough rectification of the officialdom and administration of Hejian County, the Protectorate of the Korean Peninsula and the overseas silver mountain, the expulsion of the Xiongnu to the west, and the expansion of the Han Dynasty's borders to the west of the Pamir Mountains...

There are many secrets in these matters that are unknown to outsiders.

Even Su Wen only had a vague understanding of it, but he had been serving Liu Che for many years, so how could he not see that Liu Che and Liu Ju had actually always maintained some kind of subtle tacit understanding that was imperceptible to outsiders?

Even Liu Che and Liu Ju themselves might not be aware of this tacit understanding, but the two of them were always able to achieve almost perfect cooperation.

Only Su Wen, an outsider caught in the middle, has the opportunity to feel all these.

But Su Wen didn't dare to say it out loud, because a self-conceited person like Liu Che had an instinctive resistance to things that seemed to involve coordination and cooperation with others.

"Um……"

After hearing Su Wen's words, Liu Che had completely calmed down. His deep eyes looked towards the direction of Chang'an, and his gaze slowly moved around, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Finally, he seemed to accept the reality and laughed coldly:
"Haha, I heard this rebellious son calling me. Go prepare the car and return to Beijing immediately!"

……

In just two or three days, the imperial edicts concerning these two national policies had spread throughout the capital and the three prefectures within the Great Wall.

The messengers delivering the imperial edict could travel on unobstructed roads, so if nothing unexpected happened, except for some extremely remote areas, the imperial edict could be spread to most parts of the country in less than 20 days.

At the same time, the rural opera troupe led by Li Guangli also entered an intensive publicity phase.

It should be noted that before this, many years ago, Liu Che had already ordered each county and hall to set up a special drama troupe to replace those Confucian scholars and virtuous literature as his own mouthpiece. Therefore, to publicize the policy now, it is only necessary to distribute the drama script compiled by Li Guangli overtime to various places, and after a simple rehearsal, the propaganda work can be started.

As the imperial edict was issued, the capital area and the three prefectures immediately exploded.

Officials and gentry, virtuous and literati, princes and nobles, and prominent families and powerful people from all over the country were all excited. Many people even expressed their dissatisfaction in public, trying to distort the true purpose of these two national policies and incite even more intense emotions among the people.

After all, taking someone's money is like killing their parents.

And if you not only take away people's money but also ruin their career, that's like digging up their ancestral graves.

So is it any use for them to do this?

Nature is useful.

In this social structure similar to the farmer economy, the influence of these officials, gentry, virtuous and literati, princes and nobles, and prominent families on the hearts of local people is sometimes even greater than that of the imperial court, and the right to interpret government decrees and laws is usually in the hands of these people.

Therefore, they are naturally more adept at inciting the emotions of the people.

Moreover, although the opera troupes in rural areas are nominally affiliated with the imperial court, they are also subject to the control of local government. This gives them the possibility of secretly disobeying the imperial court. With some tricks, they can delay or prevent the opera troupes from carrying out timely publicity. Even if these people unite to put pressure on the troupes, no one dares to go to watch the performances of the opera troupes in rural areas... At the same time.

Prime Minister's House.

"I really didn't expect that Liu Ju would actually dare to push these two national policies."

Shi Qing stroked his beard, his expression much more relaxed than a few days ago.
"Are the people around him all stupid and ignorant?"

"Even if he is surrounded by idiots, Gongsun He and Han Shuo can't just sit there and do nothing. One of them is Liu Ju's uncle, and the other is Liu Ju's father-in-law. If Liu Ju falls, they will definitely suffer. Why don't they try to dissuade him?"

Shi De beside him also asked with a smile:

"Father, Liu Ju has been silent for the past two days. How about I go to Bowang Garden to find out more about him?"

"Why are you going? Just wait and see the show."

Shi Qing glanced at him and said unhappily,
"What you should do now is to draw a clear line with him, so as not to drag you into his downfall."

"Besides, Liu Ju has the list in his hand and he no longer trusts you. Even if you go, you will definitely not be able to find out any real and effective information. Instead, you may be used by him."

"So instead of paying attention to him right now, it's better to pay attention to the biggest variable in this matter."

Shi De was slightly startled when he heard this:
"Father, the biggest variable is..."

"His Majesty."

Shi Qing's expression became serious, and he said in a dull voice,
"If His Majesty dies now, we can rest assured."

"But if His Majesty has not passed away this time, we must plan carefully how to prevent Liu Ju from meeting His Majesty and prevent His Majesty from seeing the list in Liu Ju's hand."

"Otherwise, even if Liu Ju falls, we'll probably be in trouble."

"What father means is..."

Shi De narrowed his eyes upon hearing that, lowered his voice, raised his hand and made a knife-like gesture in front of his throat.

"What are you thinking about? Do you still want the Shi family's century-old reputation?"

Shi Qing immediately raised his hand and gave Shi De a slap, cursing him angrily,

"I'm just saying it's a bit troublesome, but it's not unsolvable."

"Liu Ju's list is groundless and now he has caused such a big mess. Even if Your Majesty is not dead, you will have to first appease the people and bring peace to the country after you return."

"Besides, the list involves a wide range of people. As the saying goes, the law cannot punish the masses. Our hearts are also the hearts of the people. Even Your Majesty cannot take action against us without real evidence. Wouldn't that go against the intention of appeasing the people and bringing peace to the world?"

"The trouble I'm talking about is that we may be suspected by His Majesty from now on. I'm afraid we will have to find an opportunity to retreat while the tide is still."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Your Majesty has reached this age, and I think he only has a few years left. Therefore, as long as you preserve the Shi family's century-old reputation, you should keep your family in peace and protect yourself."

"As long as we can survive these few years, there will still be plenty of opportunities to make a comeback after His Majesty passes away and the new ruler ascends the throne."

"After this incident, Liu Ju has no hope of succeeding the throne. Your Majesty may have to use him as a warning to appease the people. What else do we have to worry about?"

"If the person who will succeed the throne in the future is Liu Hong, then my merits in following the emperor will still be remembered, which would be even better..."

The Shi family had a very good reputation in the Han Dynasty for a hundred years. Shi Qing's father, Shi Fen, was known as "Wanshi Jun". He began to serve Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, at the age of fifteen, and then served through many dynasties until the reign of Emperor Jing. If the two deposed emperors in between are counted, he is directly a veteran of six dynasties.

Moreover, in the process of serving as an official, Shi Fen has always been cautious and humble, and he is also quite strict in educating his son, gradually creating a family tradition of filial piety and rigor in the eyes of the outside world.

This meant that after Shi Fen's death, the Shi family still had an extremely good reputation both in the court and in the country.

Even the fact that Shi Qing was able to become the Prince's tutor before and the Prime Minister now is all related to the reputation of the Shi family.

……

Bowang Garden.

"Your Highness, I have heard a lot of criticism these days..."

Guo Zhen spoke to Liu Qio hesitantly.

Chang'an was the political center of the Han Dynasty. Whenever an imperial decree was issued, it was naturally Chang'an where it was first received and most effectively executed.

Now that the two national policies have been launched, many criticisms have arisen in Chang'an, and places outside Chang'an are naturally facing even greater difficulties.

"I see."

Liu Ju smiled indifferently, still teasing the two small dogs raised in the garden without raising his head.

Not only Guo Zhen was worried, but everyone who cared about Liu Ju was also worried these days. Wei Zifu even sent people to persuade him again and again.

This time, Liu Ju did not hide from Wei Zifu. He specially brought Yishuo, Han Ling, Dilibai'er, and his two grandsons Liu Fuling and Liu Bingyi into the palace to meet Wei Zifu.

By the way, Han Ling also gave birth to a son.

This time Liu Ju was too lazy to waste brain cells and simply used the name of Emperor Xuan of Han. In this way, the two emperors Emperor Zhao of Han and Emperor Xuan of Han in history both became his sons. Just sounding like a rock.

But even so, no one knew what Liu Ju was going to do next, and they could only watch and worry.

"Your Highness..."

Guo Zhen was extremely anxious and wanted to say something.

But Liu Ju finally raised his head and waved his hand:

"It's almost time. Go and prepare a chariot for me. Then pick ten crossbowmen from my personal soldiers who are good at archery and bring them to me with bows and crossbows. It's time for us to take action."

"Your Highness, crossbows are banned in Chang'an City."

Guo Zhen was startled when he heard this and reminded him subconsciously.

"I know, so you have to do it in secret."

Liu Ju smiled.

(End of this chapter)