Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 37 Liang Ji: Xiao Yan Jian Liang (2)
Xiao Hong usually lived extravagantly, was insatiably greedy, and tried his best to amass money.There are hundreds of storerooms in his mansion, and the inner hall is heavily guarded. Some people suspected that Xiao Hong hid his military weapons there in an attempt to rebel, so they quietly reported this information to Emperor Wu of Liang.Emperor Wu of Liang always attached great importance to family ties, so he was very unhappy when he heard about this incident.One day, Emperor Wu of Liang sent someone to deliver rich food to Xiao Hong's concubine, Jiang Shi, and sent her a message, saying: "I will come to the mansion to have a drink later." Qiu Tuoqing, the lieutenant of the Shesheng School under his command, went to Xiao Hong's house for a banquet.When Xiao Hong and Jiang Shi were both drunk, Emperor Wu of Liang suddenly said, "I want to take a look at your back room." After that, he ordered the car to drive straight to the back room.The actions of Emperor Wu of Liang woke up the half-drunk Xiao Hong suddenly. He was afraid that the emperor would see his belongings and his expression would be very frightened and nervous.Seeing his reaction, Emperor Wu of Liang became even more puzzled, so he searched carefully one by one.But what surprised him was that there were no weapons in the room at all, and he saw that every 100 million yuan was put in a pile, marked with a yellow list; every 1000 million yuan was a treasury, and there was a purple mark hanging on the door ; There are more than 30 money banks like this.Emperor Wu and Qiu Tuoqing calculated with their fingers that there were more than 3 million. The other rooms were also stored with a lot of sundries such as cloth, silk, cotton wool, lacquerware, and wax.I only saw that the warehouse was full of piles, but I couldn't figure out how many there were.In this way, the hanging heart of Emperor Wu of Liang was finally relieved, and he found out that there was no hidden weapon in Xiao Hong's warehouse. That's great!" After the turmoil subsided, they returned to the banquet to drink Dadan.Since then, the relationship between the two brothers has become more harmonious.

[Comment and Analysis]

Emperor Wu of Liang Xiao Yan was called the "Bodhisattva Emperor" not only because he believed in Buddhism, but more importantly because he was very kind to people. Whenever the court wanted to sentence some criminals to death, he would be unhappy for several days. A fool who knows how to exploit the people is different.Such an emperor is not only kind to ordinary people, but also friendly to his relatives, especially his younger brother Linjiang Wang Xiaohong.Someone reported Linjiang Wang Xiao Hong's rebellion several times, but he didn't pursue it.When he really couldn't believe it, he went directly to the Linjiang Prince's Mansion to inspect it for himself, and finally found that those were not weapons at all but money, so he believed in his innocence even more, and the two reconciled as before.

Xiao Tong died young

[Original text]

Liang Gaozu Wu Emperor Zhong Datong three years

Summer, April, Yisi, Prince Zhaoming died.The prince is in the Canadian dollar service, even if the government is recorded in the province, all the officials are involved, and the commission is in the front. The prince argues and analyzes the fraud. It will never be seen, but the order is corrected, no case is added, and the prison is settled. , tolerant and tolerant of the public, joy and anger are not visible.Good reading belongs to literature, attracts talents, and appreciates love tirelessly.He has been out of the palace for more than [-] years and has no vocal music.Every time it rains, rains and snow accumulates, I will send the left and right Zhou to walk in the alleys, and look at the poor to help them.Filial and prudent in nature, in the East Palace, although he lives in a swallow, he sits up and faces the west, or if he stays and is called in, he sits in danger.As for sleeping sickness, for fear of worrying the emperor, he asked questions and wrote by himself.When he died, the government and the public were stunned. Jiankang men and women ran to the palace gate, crying on the road.

At the beginning, Prince Zhaoming buried his mother, Ding Gui, and sent someone to pray for the blessing of the cemetery.Or bribe the eunuch Yu Sanfu to ask to sell the land, and it is said that if he gets 300 million yuan, he will give it to him in millions.The third secret letter said, "The prince's land is not as good as the current land, which is auspicious for the emperor."If you are old and taboo, you will be ordered to the market.After the burial, a Taoist said: "This place is not good for the eldest son. If you hate it, you may extend it." It was the wax goose and other things that were buried on the side of the tomb for the eldest son.The official supervisors Bao Miaozhi and Wei Yachu both favored the prince, but Miaozhi later saw that he was neglected by Ya, so he secretly said: "Ya is tired of praying for the prince." They were dispatched to search, but they found goose things. They were shocked and left poor The matter, Xu Mian firmly remonstrated and stopped, but punished Taoist priests.Because of this, the prince was ashamed and angry all his life, unable to explain himself.When he died, his eldest son Huarong Gonghuan, the governor of South Xuzhou, went to Jiankang.

Chen Guang said: A gentleman must stay away from the righteous way for a while, and he must not lose it in a single step.With the benevolence and filial piety of Prince Zhaoming and the kindness of Emperor Wu, as soon as he is infected with traces of suspicion, his body is worried about death, and his crimes will reach later Kun.Because of the grotesque people, the strange and evil techniques, the gentleman is far away.

【Translation】

The third year of Emperor Wu of Liang Zhong Datong (531 A.D.)
On the sixth day of April, Xiao Tong, Prince Zhaoming of the Liang Dynasty, died.Since Prince Zhaoming held the coronation ceremony, Emperor Wu of Liang began to let him handle the government affairs. All the officials who came to perform their duties must first gather with the prince.Prince Zhaoming has always been able to discern right from wrong, and often has insight into what is inappropriate, but he only orders the relevant departments to make corrections, and does not hold them accountable.The prince enforces the law impartially, often preserves and forgives criminals, treats people generously and kindly, is very tolerant, and does not show his emotions.Prince Zhaoming likes to read and write articles, introduces and accepts talented people, appreciates and loves him, and is never tired.The prince has lived in the East Palace for more than 20 years, and has never kept musicians and singers.Whenever it rains heavily or the snow does not melt, Prince Zhaoming will send his left and right attendants to patrol the streets and alleys, and give relief to the poor as soon as they find them.Prince Zhaoming was filial by nature and lived in the East Palace. Even when he was relaxing, he had to face the west when he stood up. If he had received an order in advance to enter the palace the next day for an audience, then he would sit upright until dawn that night.After the prince's illness worsened, fearing that Emperor Wu of Liang would be worried about it, every time Emperor Wu of Liang sent someone to send a letter of greeting, the prince had to write a letter to answer it himself.When Prince Zhaoming passed away, the government and the public were extremely shocked and regretful. Men, women and children in Jiankang City all rushed to the palace gate, and there were crying sounds from everywhere along the way.

At first, when Prince Zhaoming was burying his biological mother Ding Gui, he sent people everywhere to buy a cemetery with good geomantic omen.Someone took the opportunity to bribe the eunuch Third Deputy Yu to sell his land to Prince Zhaoming, and promised that if he got 300 million yuan, he would give 100 million of it to Third Deputy Yu.Therefore, the third deputy Yu secretly played Emperor Wu of Liang, saying: "The land bought by the prince is not as good as the land you are now, which is more auspicious to the emperor." Emperor Wu of Liang was getting old, so he had many taboos. Bought this land.After Ding Guifei was buried, a Taoist priest said to the prince: "This land is not good for the eldest son, but if we find a way to township, maybe we can extend it." Then he buried the wax goose and other items in Ding The position of the eldest son on the side of the noble concubine's tomb.Palace supervisors Bao Miaozhi and Wei Ya were both favored by Prince Zhaoming at first, but later Bao Miao and Wei Ya became estranged, so he secretly wrote to Emperor Wu of Liang: "Wei Ya dares to curse and pray for the prince." After hearing this, Emperor Wu sent people to dig in the cemetery, and they really dug up the wax goose and other things.Emperor Liang Wu was shocked and planned to investigate the matter thoroughly.Xu Mian tried his best to persuade Emperor Wu of Liang to stop him, but executed the original Taoist priest.Because of this incident, the prince was ashamed and angry all his life, and it was difficult to prove his innocence.After the crown prince passed away, Emperor Wu of Liang recalled the crown prince's eldest son, Duke Huarong, the governor of South Xuzhou, Xiao Huan, to Jiankang, planning to make Xiao Huan his successor, but he still hated the previous incident in his heart. Xiao Huan was established as the heir, but he was sent back to South Xuzhou.

Minister Sima Guang said: A gentleman walks on the right path, and he cannot deviate even a little bit, and he cannot make half-step mistakes!For a benevolent and filial son like Prince Zhaoming, and a loving king like Emperor Wu of Liang, once he was a little bit suspicious, not only the prince himself would die of worry and anger, but even his descendants would be affected.Prince Zhaoming wanted to seek good luck but got bad luck, so that he could not wash away his grievances. How can we not take this as a warning?Therefore, for those cunning and grotesque people with strange and treacherous techniques, the gentleman should stay away from them far away.

[Comment and Analysis]

Anyone who loves classical literature knows "Selected Works of Zhaoming". This book collects excellent poems and essays before the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The selection is exquisite and widely circulated. The editor of this book is Prince Xiao Tong of the Liang Dynasty.Xiao Tong was kind-hearted and talented, but because of court disputes, he was suspected by Emperor Wu of Liang, and he died soon after being wronged, which is a pity.Emperor Wu of Liang later realized that he had been wronged, and posthumously named him Prince Zhaoming.Liu Xie was appreciated by the prince at that time, and he became a confidant with him.Through this incident, he saw through the ways of the world, declined Emperor Wu of Liang's repeated attempts to persuade him to stay, and went to Dingjue Temple to become a monk.Civil and military officials and even ordinary people feel infinite grief for the loss of such a wise, trustworthy, benevolent and righteous prince.

(End of this chapter)