When he was in Xiliang, Chen Cheng had already ordered that all kinds of torture were abolished, such as Ling Chi, beheading, and splitting the corpses of five horses, all of which were no longer used, and only the two death sentences of "hanging" and "beheading" were retained. This order is considered to be virtuous, and many people know it, and so does the Son of Heaven.

That's why at this time, he asked: "For the sake of them as ministers of the court, shouldn't they keep a whole corpse?" ”

Chen Cheng shook his head and said, "Our Han people have never been afraid of bloodshed, and the ministers have noble status, so of course they have to die decently. ”

He looked around the hall and asked, "Who is in favor of these people and who is against?" ”

There was silence in the hall, and the courtiers bowed their heads, neither for nor against. Only the Empress Dowager He said angrily: "The general is really majestic!" ”

Chen Cheng glanced at the Empress Dowager He and said, "I am the most reasonable, if the Empress Dowager has any different opinions, she can say it in front of the ministers now." If it makes sense, I'll listen. ”

Empress Dowager He snorted coldly and turned her head to the side.

Chen Cheng saw that no one spoke again, so he said to the soldier on the ground: "Taifu, since you are awake, why do you still lie on the ground?" Get up, I don't want to kill more, your family is just exile. If you have any last words, say them now, and when you are done, you will be on your way. ”

He looked at Queen Fu beside the Son of Heaven, and then looked at the pale general of the chariot among the courtiers, and said in his heart: For the sake of the Son of Heaven, I will give you another chance. If I get involved in this kind of thing next time, I won't be to blame.

After Fu Wan caught a glimpse of Chen Cheng looking over, he was shocked in his heart, and lowered his head even deeper. He, like Wang Yun, had a close relationship with Shisun Duan and was also involved in the planning. Now that the general is about to kill, it is not difficult to kill one more. He cried blood in his heart, and secretly wept and said: Taifu, you can go with confidence, I will avenge you!

Shisun Duan was told by Chen Cheng to break his behavior, opened his eyes and got up from the ground, bowed to the Son of Heaven, and then said to the other courtiers in the hall: "Rank ministers, I will go first!" ”

He glared at Chen Cheng angrily and shouted, "Thief Chen, do it!" ”

Chen Cheng said to the left and right: "Why do you make it look like I've become a villain?" ”

Yang Qiu said: "Why should the lord bother with these people? Just send them on their way early. ”

Chen Cheng smiled: "That's right. Come on, drag it down and cut it down! ”

Shisun flicked his sleeves and said angrily to the two tooth soldiers who came up: "I will leave myself!" ”

His righteous and awe-inspiring appearance made many ministers show reverence. However, more people were frightened and turned pale, their hands and feet trembled, and even three or four couldn't help but wet their pants and emit a foul smell. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to die alone, and there are still a few people who can be fearless of life and death without training.

When Shisun Duan and the others were dragged down, Chen Cheng pressed the horizontal knife on his waist and said to everyone in the main hall; "Take this as a warning to you today, and be at peace with all of you. Although I don't like to kill, I am not afraid to kill. ”

The people he saw all lowered their heads, and Chen Cheng said to the Son of Heaven again: "Your Majesty read more books on weekdays, study hard, make progress every day, and don't get involved with these chaotic ministers and thieves." When you're done, I'll teach you some skills in leading troops to fight and governing places. ”

"Huh?"

The look of consternation on Liu Bian's face was not only him, but even the courtiers, the Queen Mother, and the Wenchen generals under Chen Cheng's command were the same.

After Chen Cheng finished speaking, he said to Yan Zhong and Jia Xu, who had been watching silently on the sidelines: "The matter has been dealt with, should Bo Dao and Wen He go back to work, or go to my house for a small gathering?" ”

Yan Zhong said with a smile: "I'll go back to the office first, and then I'll go when I'm released." ”

Jia Xu said: "I am the same as Zhongshu Ling. ”

Chen Cheng nodded, said no more, and left Changle Palace with the guards and soldiers. When the fierce and vicious heavy-armored soldiers in the main hall had left, the Son of Heaven Liu Yan took a few steps forward, pulled Liu Qian's sleeve, and said urgently: "Imperial sister, you have to make it clear to your brother-in-law that these things are not my mastermind!" ”

The ministers looked at each other with different expressions on their faces, and then retreated together silently.

The central government office was in the west of Weiyang Palace, and not long after Yan Zhong returned to Zhongshu Province, a soldier came to report: "Jingzhao Yin Mengtuo asks to see him." ”

Yan Zhong said, "Bring him in." ”

When Meng Tuo sat down on the futon, Yan Zhong said, "This time things are done well. ”

Meng Tuo said respectfully: "It's all arranged properly by the Zhongshu Order, but the lord still can't make up his mind and refuses to kill more." Such a good opportunity, that is, to get rid of more than a dozen people. ”

Yan Zhong stroked his beard and sneered: "Don't rush, things have to be done slowly." Even if the Son of Heaven can endure it, these ministers can't bear it. You should always pay attention to collect more of their illegal deeds, and sooner or later they will be useful. ”

"Yes," Meng Tuo seemed to think about it, and said, "Jia Wenhe is a person trusted by the lord, and if he can be on our side, things will be much easier." ”

"Jia Xu? Hmph, talented but not courageous, don't worry about him. ”

Meng Tuo said: "But if it is said that Her Royal Highness the princess and Jia Xu are very close, and he is in charge of Menxia Province, this ....... Will it be bad for us? ”

"Don't worry, Jia Wenhe is a smart person, it is difficult for him to come out, but he will not jump out and go against us." Yan Zhong said: "As long as we don't have problems ourselves, he won't deliberately embarrass us." ”

Speaking of this, Yan Zhong glared at Meng Tuo and said: "Tell your people to be cleaner with their hands and feet, there are so many things to make money now, don't always think about oppressing the people, the prince hates bullying the weak." If you don't know anything, you can invest your money in textile mills and other factories, which is much faster than farming! ”

Meng Tuo said with some embarrassment: "Zhongshu Ling, I am not short of money, and I also have some shares in the factory." But the officials below are really not doing well, they have neither the money nor the way to participate in the factory! ”

Yan Zhong said angrily: "Then let them go to the Western Regions to grow cotton, the money will definitely come quickly!" ”

"This .........."

Yan Zhong glanced at Meng Tuo, whose face was becoming more and more embarrassed, and said, "I will recommend Zidu to enter middle school, and when he finishes studying, he will go to the household department or the military department to help me do things." ”

Meng Tuo hurriedly said: "Thank you Shang Shuling, but the dog still wants to join the army." ”

Shisun Duan's assassination of the general was a serious political incident, hundreds of people were killed, and thirteen ministers were beheaded, all of whom were important ministers who followed the Son of Heaven from Luoyang to Chang'an, and their families were exiled to Jiuquan County or further afield. The death of so many court ministers is a good thing for the Liangzhou faction, but it may not be for Chen Cheng.

Those ministers are not alone, and the in-laws, colleagues, protégés, teachers, etc., behind them have complicated relationships. Killing people is very pleasant, but the cohesion has dropped a lot, and the princes of the world will also despise the court because of this matter, and they are dissatisfied with Chen Cheng.

However, there are also benefits, and the heroes and scholars in Guanzhong have settled down a lot. Even some ill-intentioned people, seeing Chen Cheng's decisiveness, they didn't dare to do anything again in a short period of time.

A few days later, Chen Cheng called Lu Bu over again. Lu Bu followed the tooth soldiers to the palace that was both strange and familiar, saying that it was strange because the soldiers guarding here were all unknown to him. said that it was familiar, because he once monopolized the entire Chang'an Palace, and he slept there wherever he wanted, and he also slept in this Weiyang Palace.

Entering the palace, Lu Bu bowed to Chen Cheng and said, "See the general!" ”

"You may be seated."

Waiting for Lu Bu to sit down, Chen Cheng said: "A few days ago, I arrested Shisun Duan and others, copied out a lot of correspondence, and implicated many court ministers. Many people say that they have also tried to woo you, but you refused, why is that? ”

Lu Bu was shocked, but when he saw that the armor soldiers around him were all standing in place and did not come up, he was relieved, he spread his hands and said, "Why else?" Wang Yun's gang has no soldiers and no generals in their hands, and they still want to rebel? I'm not stupid, how can I be with them? ”

Chen Cheng asked with interest, "Oh, so you think so, then why don't you come and report them to me?" ”

Lu Bu was angry in his heart, and said secretly: You robbed my Diao Chan, and you still want me to please you? Ahh

He said hatefully: "Although I can't beat you, I'm not a villain who sees the wind and steers the rudder!" ”

Chen Cheng smiled dumbly, shook his head, and said, "If you change to someone else, you can be killed just by knowing the crime of not reporting." ”

Lu Bu suddenly stood up from his chair and exclaimed, "You want to kill me?" ”

Chen Cheng looked at Lu Bu's nervous appearance and said with a smile: "Why are you so nervous?" If I were to kill you, would you be able to resist? You are unarmed now, even if your martial arts are high, what use can you have? ”

Lu Bu felt a little relieved, and put down his clenched hands, but then asked nervously, "You didn't want to kill me, did you?" ”

"Nope."

Lu Bu really relieved himself and sat back in his chair. Chen Cheng pondered for a while and asked, "Is General Lu okay living in Chang'an City?" ”

"Okay, how could it be bad?" Lu Bu said stupidly: "Why don't you try it?" ”

"Hehe, General Lu is really temperamental." Chen Cheng said with a smile: "From last year to now, although you haven't lived in Chang'an City for a year, it's almost over. Those generals in your past have made a lot of military achievements, especially Gao Shun, who repelled Cao Cao's soldiers and horses many times in Xuzhou. ”

"What are you telling me all this for?"

Chen Cheng said: "Gao Shun has repeatedly written and said a lot of good things about you. He fought bravely, and he was wounded several times and still fought to the death, I thought, since there are still people who can be so desperate for you, it can be seen that you still have something outstanding about Fengxian. ”

Lu Bu said proudly: "Hmph, the martial arts of a certain family have never met opponents!" ”

Chen Cheng said with a smile: "Really? ”

Lu Bu remembered the defeat he had been beaten by Chen Cheng, his face couldn't help but become a little ugly, the muscles on his face twitched, and he reluctantly admitted: "It's a little worse than you." ”