Great Han Empire

Chapter 516 Immediately Shooting the Gun
August 28, afternoon, Nangong Jiade Hall.

Hundreds of officials gathered in the Jiade Hall to discuss the aftermath of the Luoyang chaos.Because the emperor was frightened, he stayed in the Changqiu Palace to rest, and the court meeting was presided over by Taifu Yuan Wei.

Facing the high dragon seat, Yuan Kai loudly reported the whole story of the chaos in Luoyang since Wuchen Day (25th), announcing the traitors who died in the chaos, the disciples of the traitors, and the traitors belonging to the traitors. He punished the traitors who attacked the imperial palace and killed the hussar general for the crimes of the ministers of the department, and praised the former general Dong Zhuo for his contribution to suppressing the Luoyang rebellion and rescuing the holy car.Yuan Kai implored the emperor to reward Dong Zhuo and other officials who had contributed to the chaos.

After Yuan Kai finished speaking, Shangshu Xu Jing hurried to Changqiu Palace with Yuan Kai's memorial.Since the middle officials were expelled from the palace, in order to ensure that the Empress Dowager He presided over the government smoothly, the contacts between the ministers and the Empress Dowager were basically represented by several ministers from the Shangshutai.Before Empress Dowager He Yizhi came down, the Jiade Palace became a place where ministers gathered to discuss and argue.

Yuan Kui, Yang Biao, Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun and others gathered together to talk eloquently. Standing in the middle, Dong Zhuo deeply felt his own isolation, an isolation that could not integrate into the scholars.These ministers are all celebrities and Confucian scholars in the dynasty, and they are all knowledgeable and eloquent. Let alone expressing opinions, it takes a lot of effort to understand what these people say.Dong Zhuo felt inferior for the first time.Although Yuan Kai and others took his face into consideration and didn't want to neglect him, they often talked to him and asked from time to time: "What do you think?" Dong Zhuo hesitated and couldn't answer.He was very embarrassed. He felt that Yuan Wei and these ministers were deliberately mocking and insulting him. He even felt that the smiles of these people contained extreme contempt for him.Dong Zhuo's face was hot, and his heart was full of anger.He didn't know why he was angry, was it because he was a vulgar warrior, or was it because the people standing around him were all famous celebrities in the dynasty?
Are warriors vulgar?Huangfugui, Zhang Huan, and Duan Jiong were all men of profound knowledge, and they had hundreds of disciples, but they still could not be recognized by scholars.This is not a question of whether warriors themselves are vulgar, but that there is a deep-rooted view in the hearts of scholars, and they think that warriors are vulgar.Dong Zhuo was familiar with the scriptures when he was young. When he was enlisted by the former Situ Zhongsong to be a historian, his articles were praised by Zhongsong. Dong Zhuo didn't think he was a vulgar warrior.

Dong Zhuo retreated to the side of the hall, looked at the ministers in the hall, and suddenly thought of a question, although he has a large army in his hand, can he really force these scholars to agree to the deposed proposal?If the proposal to depose is blocked, what should I do? Is it necessary to kill?Is Yuan Kui's promise true?Dong Zhuo thought of General He Jin, and felt He Jin's helplessness and sorrow.He Jin, like himself, was unable to get the support of the scholars because of his humble status. Although He Jin tried his best to enlist famous scholars to enter the government and racked his brains to become a member of the scholars, in the end he was still rejected by the scholars. Ruthlessly trampled to death.If the scholars were willing to help him, he would have eradicated the traitor long ago and became the most powerful person in Luoyang.

Will I also be trampled to death by these scholars?Will he be ruthlessly abandoned after being used by them?Dong Zhuo couldn't help but tremble when he thought of He Jin's death.

He Jin said that he died at the hands of the eunuch, but it was these elegant scholars standing in the hall who really killed He Jin.In just three days, the scholars wiped out the influence of the traitors and relatives in Luoyang City. It can be seen that they have been prepared for a long time and have the heart to uproot the traitors and relatives.He Jin was defeated at the moment of success and lost everything. What was the root cause?Dong Zhuo believed that He Jin died because he did not control the army and did not control the power.The death of He Jin is a lesson for others. From He Jin's defeat, Dong Zhuo wanted to understand one thing.If you want to survive, you must have enough troops to control the scholars, and you must have enough authority to control the scholars.Now Luoyang has only two major forces, the warriors and the scholars represented by him.Looking at myself today, if I want to be accepted and recognized by scholars, it is simply a dream.Liangzhou Sanming is a living example. It is better for me to give up fantasy and reality as soon as possible.Either he was killed by the scholars or driven back to Western Xinjiang by the scholars, or he controlled Luoyang in his own hands and trampled the scholars under his feet.

Dong Zhuo looked at the palace with his hands behind his back, with a haughty look on his face.

Soon, Xu Jing brought back the Empress Dowager Yizhi.

The Empress Dowager agrees with Master Taifu's announcement, and all matters related to the aftermath will be discussed by Master Taifu.

The Empress Dowager used Sikong Dong Zhuo to participate in the affairs of the Li Shangshu, and handled state affairs with the Taifu.Worship the former Situ Cui Lie and Ding Gong as the servants of the left and right ministers, and these two veteran officials will report to Changqiu Palace.

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August 28, dusk.

Li Wei and Li Ru saw Dong Zhuo walking out of the palace, and rushed to greet him.

Dong Zhuo chatted for a few words and explained the content of the court meeting, "Yuan Kai played to the queen mother to ask me to participate in the affairs of Li Shangshu, and the queen mother has agreed. Look, does this mean that Yuan Wei has acquiesced."

"My lord's speculation is very reasonable." Li Ru said: "My lord used extraordinary means to control the northern army, and even killed Wu Fu, the captain of the Yueqi school. This is an intolerable thing for the queen mother and the ministers of the court. Even if they dare not immediately take countermeasures to anger your lord due to the current situation in Luoyang, they will definitely not let your lord enter the court. The greater the lord's power, the stronger his control over Luoyang, and the greater the threat to them. Therefore, no one would agree to give your lord more power. There is only one explanation for your lord's participation in the affairs of the Li Shangshu as a minister today, and that is that Yuan Kai has reached a tacit agreement with the ministers in the court."

"Your Excellency does not have the qualifications and conditions to participate in official affairs at present." Li Wei approached Dong Zhuo and said, "Without Yuan Kai's support and persuasion, not only other ministers would strongly oppose it, but even the Queen Mother would not agree. Therefore, you can To be sure, Master Yuan Wei has acquiesced to the proposal of deposing him. But..."

Dong Zhuo frowned slightly, and turned to look at Li Wei.

"But why did the Queen Mother agree? What did Yuan Wei say to her?" Li Wei said in a low voice, "Now that He Jin is dead, He Miao is dead, Xu Xiang and Fan Ling are dead, doesn't the Queen Mother know the truth behind this?" The real reason? Yuan Wei and the scholars killed all their opponents overnight in order to monopolize power. Will the queen mother continue to trust Yuan Wei? Yuan Wei either threatened the queen mother or agreed to the queen mother, but according to Yuan Kui's identity , I will definitely not threaten each other with words, but only..."

Dong Zhuo's back felt cold, and he thought of He Jin's death again.Although He Jin suffered from all kinds of influences in Luoyang City, he was indecisive and hesitant to do things. He missed many opportunities to kill traitors, which was also one of the reasons why he fell short in the end and died.Dong Zhuo already understood what Li Wei said.

Li Wei's worry was not unreasonable.Although I said that I have controlled the Northern Army now, it has only been a few days?This control is nothing more than talking about it, and I don't have any confidence in my heart.Duan Yan and Bao Hong are his old friends, but old friends don't mean they are loyal to him.Zhang Liao, Zhang Yang, and Wu Qiuyi used to be members of great generals. If the emperor personally issued an edict, they would turn their spears and kill them without hesitation.Not to mention Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo has already seen anger and betrayal in his unruly eyes, it is safe to kill someone like Cao Cao if he finds a chance.

If one day the queen mother and Yuan Kai trapped themselves in the palace when they were so happy and dizzy, and then issued an edict ordering the northern army to unite with other soldiers from Gyeonggi to kill Xiliang soldiers, then they would be gone There is no place to bury He Jin's followers.

Dong Zhuo looked at Li Wei with questioning eyes.Li Wei waved the horsewhip in his hand, and said with a calm smile, "My lord should use the power of thunder to quickly control Luoyang and take control of the authority."

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August 28, late at night, calm and optimistic.

Shangshu He Yong, Zhou Yu, and Chengmen School Captain Wu Qiong suddenly received Dong Zhuo's warrant and hurried to the Northern Army camp.

"Tomorrow, I will convene a hundred officials to discuss the dethroning of the emperor. You should prepare for me, such as the decree for dethroning the emperor, the decree for the new emperor's enthronement, etc."

"Tomorrow?" He Yong said in disbelief with a horrified expression, "It's impossible. Deposing the emperor is a major event, which requires a long-term plan, an appropriate timing, and a stable political situation. Now Luoyang is in great chaos and people are panicking. Acting hastily is prone to accidents, especially the various armies in Gyeonggi. Your Excellency is confident that you can control them all? As long as there is an army rebelling, Luoyang will fall into crisis again."

Dong Zhuo shook his head, pointed to the map laid out on the table and said: "Tomorrow, the 2 horses of Master Li Wei and Li will rush to Hangu Pass, and the 1 horses I left behind in Hangu Pass will rush to Luoyang City. In addition, when Master Li left Hedong, he had already ordered Diannong Zhonglang to lead Zhang Baiqi to gather [-] field troops to quickly cross the Yellow River south, so the Gyeonggi area is as solid as gold, so don't worry."

He Yong, Zhou Yan and Wu Qiong looked at each other in blank dismay, feeling extremely uneasy.

"Yesterday we have already agreed that the dethroning will have to wait for a while, why did your lord suddenly change his mind?" Zhou Yan asked.

Dong Zhuo laughed, "I had a dream just now. I dreamed that my head was hanging on the tower of Luoyang City, and there was a crescent moon in the sky." He looked at the three people who were in shock, and laughed loudly, "So I don't want to Wait, I’m also afraid of death. The day after tomorrow is the day of the full moon, let the new emperor ascend the throne on the day of the full moon.”

He Yong thought for a while and said: "Master, let's discuss this matter with Master Taifu. Without his acquiescence, there will be great resistance."

"I don't have time." Dong Zhuo smiled, "If you disagree, let him accompany He Jin. Didn't He Jin just die in the Jiade Hall?"

He Yong was shocked.

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August Guiyou Day (29th), in the morning, Jiade Hall.

Grand Tutor Yuan Wei fell ill, and Sikong Dong Zhuo presided over the court meeting.

Dong Zhuo stood on the main hall, facing all civil and military officials, and said loudly: "Today, the emperor is incompetent and favors traitors, causing chaos in Luoyang and turmoil in the society. How can such a king flatter the ancestral temple as the lord of the world? Today I want to follow Yi Yin, What do you think about Huo Guang's dethroning of the Son of Heaven and the replacement of King Chenliu as Emperor?"

There was a dead silence in the hall for a moment, all the officials were shocked, and no one answered.

At this moment, hundreds of heavily armed Xiliang iron cavalry rushed in under the leadership of Li Ru.The soldiers lined up on both sides of the hall one by one, staring at each other.The atmosphere in the Guardian Hall was suddenly tense and suffocating.

At the same time, Niu Fu surrounded the Jiade Palace with hundreds of cavalry, and Hu Zhen also surrounded the palace with three thousand cavalry.

Dong Zhuo walked back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. After a long time, he asked slowly, "Do you agree?"

The ministers had different expressions, some were angry, some were terrified, some were dazed, some were calm, some were indifferent, but facing the aggressive and murderous Dong Zhuo, no one spoke.

Dong Zhuo glared angrily, and waved his hands and said, "In the past, after Huo Guang decided to dethrone the plan, Tian Yannian held a long sword and killed all those who opposed it. Today I am the same. Anyone who dares to oppose the dethroning plan will be executed."

The ministers were all shocked.

Shangshu ordered Lu Zhi to stand up slowly, and said in a cold voice: "In the past, after Taijia succeeded to the throne, he was incompetent and ignorant, and the king of Changyi committed a lot of crimes, so Yi Yin and Huo Guang were deposed. Month, under fifteen years of age, without any fault in his behavior, how can he say he was deposed? I think it is true that your lord's dethroning is false, and his monopoly of power is true. Do you want to harm my great Han society?"

Dong Zhuo was furious, pointed at Lu Zhi and shouted, "Come on, grab him and chop him up."

Zhou Yan was shocked, and begged on his knees: "My lord, calm down. Lord Lu, like Lord Sikong, both want to rectify the big man and revitalize the country. If you kill Lord Lu in a fit of anger, won't the world misunderstand you?" allegiance?"

Yilang Peng Bo also hastily dissuaded him: "Master Lu is a great Confucianist in the world, and his reputation is shocking all over the world. If you kill him, it will not only damage your reputation, but also arouse the anger of the scholars. This will not do anything to revitalize your great cause. the benefits of."

Dong Zhuo had no intention of killing him at first, so he hurriedly said: "Give up your official position, and send you back to your hometown."

Lu Zhi was detained.He Yong, Zhou Wei, Han Fu and other ministers took the lead in writing their names on the policy of dethrone.

In the afternoon, under Dong Zhuo's coercion, all the ministers signed their signatures.

Dong Zhuo sent someone to send the policy of dethrone to Yuan Mansion for Taifu to have a look.With a swipe of his pen, the Grand Tutor Yuan Kui passed the deposed proposal in an unbelievable way.

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(End of this chapter)