readx;?readx; Chapter 362: Kyoto Variations

On the sixth day of the first month of February, when it was ugly, on the Chengtian Gate, a team of golden armor was on strict guard. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Emperor Zhaowu, dressed in civilian clothes, accompanied by the old eunuch Zhuo Yan, slowly climbed up to the city tower. As soon as the Imperial Forest Army saw His Majesty, they knelt down with a brush, and were just about to shout long live the mountain, but they heard Zhuo Yan wave his hand and said: "Your Majesty said that you will be exempt, so as not to be shocked below." The soldiers looked at the captain who was leading the team and stood up.

Emperor Zhaowu didn't pay attention to them, his eyes were already attracted by the black head in front of the palace, and he asked softly without looking back, "Could it be that these are all lifts?" ”

Zhuo Yan covered his mouth and chuckled: "Then how can it be, there are more than 2,000 people in the country, and I am afraid that there are more than 20,000 below." ”

Emperor Zhaowu also saw the fire clearly, nodded and said, "There seem to be some ordinary people in the back. He asked uncertainly, "Could it be that they are those refugees?"

"No, those refugees have been expelled from the city, and now they are wandering outside the middle capital." On the other side, Huangfu Shengwen, the captain of the Imperial Forest who rushed to hear the news, said: "They seem to be the people of the middle capital. ”

Emperor Zhaowu frowned and asked, "What are they making a fuss about?" ”

Huangfu Shengwen shook his head and said: "I don't know the last general, probably to support......

Emperor Zhaowu shook his head and stopped discussing this complicated issue with the silly boy. The cold wind rose sharply, Zhuo Yan gently straightened the dark black fox fur for him, and said softly: "Your Majesty, it's windy upstairs, let's go down." ”

Emperor Zhaowu shook his head, pointed to the people under the city and asked, "Have they been down there for three days?" ”

Huangfu Zhanwen nodded and said, "From the evening of February 2 to now, it has been exactly three days. Emperor Zhaowu smiled faintly: "It's quite tenacious." He tightened his shirt and whispered to Zhuo Yan: "Send an edict to them to nominate ten representatives to come in, and I will see you first." Zhuo Yan hurriedly responded and sent the little eunuch beside him to pass the decree.

The men had been starving and freezing outside the palace gate for three days, and the officials of Kyoto Prefecture had put food and drink in front of them, and they did not even look at them, allowing the rice soup steamed buns to freeze into ice lumps; The people of the central capital put padded jackets and bedding on them, and they also threw them to the ground. This time, the movers have completely put their minds on it, and they will not give up if they do not turn the two matters of the imperial examination and taxation upside down, and if they do not oust Wen Yanbo, a national thief, from power.

Three days passed, and many of them fell from hunger, but many more still held out under the gates. They stubbornly believe that without the courage and courage to sacrifice, it is impossible to move the Sacred Heart, so they are willing to sacrifice.

Fortunately, Qin Shou clumsily got Qin Lei's order, and kept a close eye on these soldiers, and as soon as someone fainted, he quickly ordered someone to help him up and carry him out, so that he could be treated and cared for, but it did not cause too many casualties.

After persisting like this for three days, the closed door finally creaked and slowly opened, and a group of eunuchs came out, cleared their throats and announced: "Your Majesty has a decree, and ten people will be invited to hear the oracle." ”

It took a long time for the lifters to react, turning their necks with difficulty, looking at each other, only to see that they all looked blank, and they couldn't squeeze out a smile, but they froze.

It took a long time before the lifters leaned over and said weakly, "Thank you, Lord Longen." Shang Dezhong, Fang Zhongshu and other provincial leaders staggered to their feet, but they fell to the ground without physical strength.

When the eunuch saw this, he said helplessly: "Go inside and carry ten sedan chairs." ”

Taking advantage of the fact that the sedan chair did not come, Shang Dezhong and the others weakly said to the people around them: "Tell you that in the same year, I will not meet the saint in person...... The words of the ...... who gave in soon spread among the crowd, and the lifters replied: "We will continue to kneel here and wait, and we will never rise unless you succeed." ”

After a while, ten small green sedan chairs were carried out, and the little eunuchs helped a few people to get on the sedan chair and carried them into the palace with a leisurely pace.

After passing the Taihe Gate and going up to Qingyun Road, he turned to the back of the Xuanzheng Palace, where the Son of Heaven went forward to rest.

The little eunuch took the ten people down from the sedan chair again, and the leading eunuch said with a smile: "In order to ensure the safety of Your Majesty's dragon body, you are not surprised by the routine body search." The lifters nodded weakly and said, "That's how it should be." A few little eunuchs stepped forward, and they were very skillful in touching their feet from head to foot, and they did not find anything other than some jade pendants, seals, brushes, and broken silver.

Only then did the leading eunuch reassure him: "Everyone, later." Then he went in to make a confession, and then came out again and said: "Your Majesty has a decree to announce that all the scholars will come to you." A few people trembled and followed the eunuch into with their heads bowed, not knowing whether they were frightened or hungry.

As soon as they entered the room, it was like a spring day in the south, and everyone felt a burst of warmth on their faces, and they couldn't help but take a few deep breaths of heating greedily, and slightly gentlely lowered their frozen chest and abdomen. A few people didn't dare to look up, so they had to look at the exquisite jacquard carpet on the ground. Until I heard the eunuch whisper a reminder: "Don't kneel yet?" "This is the busy three knocks and nine bows, and the mouth is called long live and sleep ten thousand taxes......

These people come from all over the world, with different accents, and it is natural to call 'long live', but fortunately, Emperor Zhaowu has long been used to it, and said lightly: "Get up." Then the scholars straightened up respectfully.

Emperor Zhaowu was quite satisfied with the courtesy of these scholars, and the depression caused by his three-day blockade of the door disappeared, and he said softly: "Raise your heads." ”

The soldiers hurriedly raised their heads, but their eyes were still downcast...... It's just moved from the carpet to Emperor Zhaowu's belly.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "I haven't eaten breakfast yet, I just haven't eaten yet, let's talk ......while eating," he said to Zhuo Yan, "Pass the meal." ”

Zhuo Yan smiled: "Obey." As soon as he finished clapping his hands, a team of graceful palace maids stepped forward and brought up more than a dozen kinds of porridge, dozens of snacks, and hundreds of dim sum preserves, filling the long table in front of Emperor Zhaowu.

Emperor Zhaowu saw that the scholars were still kneeling on the ground, and couldn't help laughing: "Sit down, this is a private meeting, don't be restrained." "The Supreme One is so hypocritical, if you are restrained by him, he will tell you not to be restrained. But if you want to take this seriously, he will think that you have no rules, and it will be really difficult to serve.

The scholars got up as ordered, and sat on the chair with half of their buttocks, but no one ate with Emperor Zhaowu. Emperor Zhaowu thought that these children were restrained, and said with a smile while holding the dishes and chopsticks: "Eat quickly, it's easy to talk after eating." ”

The scholars still didn't mean to move their chopsticks, and Emperor Zhaowu asked strangely, "Why don't you eat it?" The one who sat closest said respectfully: "Back to Your Majesty, many of them have been hungry and cold outside in the same year, and we really dare not turn our backs on them and enjoy this delicious food in the world." Despite the roar of their stomachs, they persevered.

Zhuo Yan was slightly annoyed and said, "Be bold...... Do you know that this is a rebellion? But Emperor Zhaowu seemed to be looking at each other today, and waved his hand to stop Zhuo Yan and said, "That's it, they don't pay attention to these things when they meet for the first time." "The scholars couldn't imagine that His Majesty the Emperor, who was so approachable and amiable, couldn't help but burst into tears, and said in their hearts: 'What a good Your Majesty, we must clear the king's side!' I couldn't hold back the excitement in my heart, and I had to kneel on the ground again.

Emperor Zhaowu stretched out his hand to help him, and said with a smile: "Excuse me, don't kneel around." As he spoke, he pushed the bowl and said, "That's it, let's talk to the side." Zhuo Yan said anxiously: "Your Majesty, you can have breakfast." ”

Emperor Zhaowu glared at him and said angrily: "My children don't eat, can I eat it?" "** Naked to buy people's hearts, but it is unusually easy to use, and ten scholars were moved by four and a half, and the seven-foot-tall man whimpered and cried, really like a wronged child.

Emperor Zhaowu's heart was so comfortable, he sat down in the side hall with all the people, and said with a smile: "The excerpt on your joint name, I have read it carefully several times, is it very literary, and the son is also written beautifully, whose handwriting is it?" ”

Fang Zhongshu hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Back to Your Majesty, the article was obtained by everyone's brainstorming, and the students only polished it a little and wrote it on their behalf." ”

Emperor Zhaowu twisted his beard approvingly: "Very good, what's your name?" ”

"Student Shanbei Juzi Fang Zhongshu." He hurriedly replied.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled slightly and said: "Zhongshu, a good name, maybe you will become the master of Zhongshu Province in the future." ”

Fang Zhongshu was excited in his heart, and hurriedly thanked him and said, "Inherit Your Majesty's auspicious words." ”

Emperor Zhaowu waved his hand and chuckled: "But you are still very immature now, not to mention the content of this document, just to say that you meditate in front of the palace gate, didn't you abandon yourself in danger, put the court in embarrassment, and trap the monarch's father in injustice?" Although the tone is not high, it is heart-wrenching, which makes people shudder.

Several scholars' faces turned pale, and Shang De swallowed his mouth and spitted heavily: "Your Majesty, our scholars have indeed given up their own safety and honor and disgrace, but we have a good heart, just to punish adultery and eliminate evil, and support justice, but we have no intention of humiliating the court and embarrassing the monarch's father." ”

Emperor Zhaowu smiled faintly and said: "Imagine what the people of the world will say, and how will it be written in the history books a hundred years later?" They will say that in February of the eighteenth year of Zhaowu, the scholars were dissatisfied with the imperial court's expulsion of refugees and the manipulation of the imperial examination, and gathered in front of the Chengtian Gate to petition, starved to death and froze to death countless ......" The narrow eyes slowly swept over the crowd, and said calmly: "You have left your name in history and died well, but have you ever thought about what the people would say about the imperial court?" How will history books write about widows? ”

Emperor Zhaowu said coldly: "They will say...... The general court at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the general emperor of Xia Ji! ”

The scholars are all young people with blue blood and pill hearts, how can they afford Emperor Zhaowu's continuous rubbing? Immediately, the sweat was like a pulp, and he knelt on the ground like a dumpling, not daring to raise his head.

Emperor Zhaowu was very satisfied with the effect he had caused, and he had not enjoyed this kind of respect from the inside out for a long time...... Those civil and military officials, under the leadership of two old bastards, are condescending one by one, and their fake appearances are disgusting.

'It's still a child's heart. Emperor Zhaowu said in his heart: "Just like my little five-......" Thinking of this, he finally decided on a way to deal with the problem, and said with a gentle smile: "Get up, it's still the same sentence, you are young and a first-time offender, so I won't pursue it this time." ”

Only then did the crowd straighten up and said cautiously: "Thank you, Your Majesty." ”

Emperor Zhaowu nodded, took a sip of tea and said, "What you have done, I have already verified, and it is not a false accusation. ”

Hearing him say this, all the people couldn't help but get slightly excited, and said in a trembling voice: "Please ask Your Majesty to uphold justice." ”

Emperor Zhaowu sighed, got up with his hands and said, "Fairness and fairness, what is justice?" As he spoke, he pointed to the merchant and said, "Tell me about it." ”

Shang Dezhong cleared his throat and replied in a clear voice: "Back to Your Majesty's words, the students think that justice is fairness and justice, so that the evil can be punished and the good can be praised, and it is justice to punish the evil and promote the good, and everyone gets what he wants." ”

Emperor Zhaowu's high-bottomed boots stepped on the carpet, making a rustling sound, and after listening to Shang Dezhong's words, he said softly: "You are right, but that is only personal justice, not the justice of the world." ”

"Fairness in the world?" The scholars couldn't help but be surprised.

Nodding, Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "Yes, one thing may be good for this person, but not good for that person." For example, when it comes to the affairs of the exiles, it is a good thing for them to keep them in the capital, but it is not necessarily a good thing for the imperial court. Therefore, the justice of the world is the justice of the majority, not the justice of some people. ”

As he spoke, he stopped and said solemnly: "The justice that I and the court insist on is the justice of this world. ”

The scholars were dizzy by him, and their hearts were like, maybe there was something going on...... I heard Emperor Zhaowu smile again: "So, many things are not as simple as you think, I have to consider the overall situation, and I hope you can understand me." He was determined to subdue these scholars, and his posture was naturally very low.

When it comes to this, where do the scholars dare to choke? Then he said respectfully: "Please give instructions to Your Majesty." ”

Emperor Zhaowu smiled happily: "Don't worry, I can't wronged you." As he spoke, he stretched out two fingers and said, "First of all, I will properly settle those disaster victims, and never let them be unable to survive...... As he spoke, he bent his finger and looked at the haggard crowd and said, "Second, how about giving you a complete and just Dabi?" ”

The scholars said in their hearts, 'Isn't this what we ask for?' Hearing this, he kowtowed with sincere excitement and said: "Thank you, Lord Longen, whether you can reach the first place or not, we will be loyal to the emperor for life, and we will die with all our might." ”

Regarding the loyalty expressed by the scholars, Emperor Zhaowu was noncommittal and said: "But whether to reduce or reduce taxes, how to rectify the rule of officials, and even the matter of Prime Minister Wen need to be decided after deliberation and deliberation by the imperial court...... No matter what the result is, I hope you can persuade the same year outside, stop tossing yourself, and go back to recuperate and wait for next month's big competition......"

After three days of hunger and cold, the scholars actually couldn't stand it anymore, but it was already difficult to ride a tiger, so they had to hold on. At this time, they can not only achieve their fundamental goals, but also step down with dignity, and they can be regarded as having an explanation for the refugees, and the scholars will not have the luxury of punishing corrupt officials and reducing taxes......

exchanged glances with each other, and kowtowed together: "Jane is in the emperor's heart, and Qiankun is arbitrary." ”

Emperor Zhaowu laughed and said: "It is indeed some loyal and good people, so let's do it, if you can pass the exam, I will recognize you ten protégés of the Son of Heaven." He felt that this was too casual, so he put on a straight face and said: "This Tianzi protégé is not good, I will be more strict with you...... If you don't pass the Jinshi exam, you are not allowed to come out to be an official! ”

In the past few days, the scholars have suffered a lot, tasted warmth and coldness, how can they receive such courtesy? So Longn? One by one, they couldn't help but cry with gratitude, burst into tears, pouted their buttocks and bowed their heads and said: "If you don't pass the Jinshi exam, you have no shame to call Your Majesty a teacher." ”

Emperor Zhaowu helped them up one by one and said: "The ...... in the capital examination" His golden words can be regarded as promising the future of ten people.

This old thing is very calculating—these ten people are the leaders of the scholars of the nine provinces and one government, and if they get their hearts, they will get the hearts of most of the scholars in the country. And what he paid was just a fake courtesy, as well as the four fluttering big characters of 'protégé of the Son of Heaven', which was really beneficial and not costly.

Therefore, Qin Lei said that when the dust settles, it will be the time for the tiger and the lion to share the prey, and jackals like him can only watch from the side...... Even if the prey was captured by his own hands.

The one who masters the strongest violence wins, and that's the meta-rule, the rule that overrides all rules.

"Your Majesty, the time has come for the court." Zhuo Yan lowered his eyebrows and said.

Emperor Zhaowu nodded, and said to the ten students who had just been accepted: "Go to the court with me." ”

"Obey the order......" Ten people responded respectfully.