Chapter 42: The Circle (I)

"At the beginning of July, the Criminal Bureau convicted the case of treason, and all the beings cried and cried out for grievances, and scolded Boyan for harming others and himself. Only Liu Chen got up and bowed to the north, and said loudly: "My generation came to kill the thief, and I only hate the unfinished work, what is the injustice?" "Then the whole crown was waiting to be killed, and the color of the death changed a lot."

"Those who went to the disaster on the same day were called Boyan Shouzhong, Zheng Yu, Wang Han, Yao Run, Wang Mo, and Wang Feng, a total of seven people. and forty-three of his servants. When the emperor heard this, he cried and did not eat all day long. The Imperial Historian asked for the statue of all living beings to be set up in the Confucian Temple in Dadu and enjoy the incense forever. The treacherous minister Ha Ma feared the strength of the south and stubbornly blocked it. The proposal was abandoned. The name of the seven people in the emperor's book is in the placket, and it is still read every day when he hunts in the north" "Later Zizhi Tongjian, Yuan, Loyal Ministers and Chivalry Biography No. 12", the author Zhao Yi.

Before this incident, we could clearly see that Zhu Chongjiu had a strong nationalism and idealism. Since then, however, he has no essential difference from the peasant rebels who have fought for the dividends of the past generations, but only succeeded by luck" by George Gordon Byron, "History of the East".

This shows that when capitalism collides with feudalism, it must be full of darkness and blood. However, the ultimate outcome is the progress of history and human society. It is only the fatal flaw of the capitalist system itself, which leads to the fact that this progress will eventually become conservative and reactionary, so that a new, scientific system that can fully protect freedom of speech will replace the old system that is decaying day by day, we call it, communism. "Capital, Oriental Volume, Karl Marx.

"Is there a boundary to freedom of speech? This issue has been an issue since freedom of expression was raised. And after studying countless typical cases in history, we have found that this boundary is real. That is, first, freedom of expression must be limited to not harming others. Second, freedom of expression must not involve acts of violence. Third, freedom of speech is a two-way street, and the freedom of one party should not be used to silence the other. Otherwise, freedom of speech will not live up to its name! "Political Zhì Theory", author, Xiong Shili.

"When the defenseless try to use force to force their demands, they cannot expect the other party to lay down their arms and kill them by the neck" Author of "National History and Wild Talks", a scholar of the Great Dream "From ancient times to the present, any political regime will instinctively show its fangs when it comes to its own survival." "Miscellaneous Notes of the Hundred Herbs", author, Lu Wen "He died, and at the moment of being shot, the hero was already dead." After that, he was rescued by nothing more than a coward dressed in the skin of a hero, and he only used killing to cover up his timidity" "The Birth of Tyranny", author, Liang Qichao

Later Chinese and foreign scholars talked about the assassination case that occurred in Jiangning in the early years of Longfeng, and there was great controversy about its cause and its final treatment.

Some people believe that the outcome of this case is the second persecution of Confucianism in history, and its cruelty is no less than that of Qin Shi Huang's book burning and pit Confucianism. Some people believe that those Confucian scholars and their families who were executed deserved their crimes, because according to the laws and people's perception at the time, rebellion, whether it happened verbally or put into practice, was a crime of ethnic punishment. However, the Huaiyang Governor's Mansion only killed the main culprit and the accomplice who were caught on the spot, which already showed mercy. If the target of the plot of the seven Confucian scholars was the Mengyuan Emperor Tuhuan Timur, not only they and the family servants present, but also their families would have been uprooted, from the eighty-year-old old man to the infant baby, none of them would be spared.

These two views have been debated for many years, and every once in a while, they are noisy. Later, it spread to the whole world, and was repeatedly discussed by philosophers, thinkers, and historians.

As the saying goes, it is seen horizontally as a peak on the side of the ridge. When later generations discussed, they inevitably stood on their own positions and angles, and covered up or magnified some details. As a result, the originally not very complicated case has become more and more confusing. So much so that hundreds of years later, there are still many films, television, and literary works, which are born with this as a template. Every adaptation can attract countless eyeballs.

However, these bustles are posterity. At that time, Zhu Chongjiu and Liu Bowen didn't think about it so much. Their goal was simple: to end the assassination as much as possible and minimize its impact. Pacify the entire Huaiyang region, and then the turmoil around Huaiyang.

Their purpose has also basically been achieved. When the mastermind of the assassination case was pinned on the heads of a few corrupt Confucians, not only the civil and military officials up and down Huaiyang were relieved, but the other princes around them also instantly put their hearts back into their stomachs.

Although, the princes know very well in their hearts that just a few rotten Confucians will definitely not be able to set off such a big storm. But at this moment, no one will take the initiative to jump out and go against the Huaiyang Governor's Mansion. A few rotten Confucians are loyal to Meng Yuan, not their courtiers, so there is no need for them to be strong. In addition, jumping out at this juncture to cry out for those corrupt Confucians, isn't it clear that Zhu Chongjiu is suing Zhu Chongjiu, and the assassination case is inseparable from himself? How many times did you have to be kicked in the head by a donkey before you had to send it to the muzzle of the Huai'an Army?!

No one who can sit on the throne of a prince is stupid. On the contrary, they are far smarter than ordinary people, and they know how to seize opportunities better than ordinary people. On the fourth day after the Huaiyang Governor's Office announced the death sentence of several corrupt Confucians, Zhang Shicheng, who had already shrunk all his troops and horses to Pingjiang and Hangzhou, immediately dispersed his team again. At the same time, an edict was issued to confiscate all the property of the Assassins who were registered on their own territory. Their disciples, protégés, and those who had close contacts in the same year were all deprived of their family property and expelled to the territory of Mengyuan, where they were left to fend for themselves.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who has been waiting for him all day long, also reacted quickly. The two Confucian scholars who were born under his rule, as well as dozens of other Confucian scholars who refused to serve the official and still served the Mengyuan court as the right people, all of them were confiscated, and the clansmen were sent to serve in the mines, and they were not released for life.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Bowen, Peng Yingyu, Zhao Pusheng and others also took similar actions, while sending envoys to Yangzhou to visit the sick. On the one hand, under the pretext of capturing the remnants of the Assassins, an unprecedented purge was launched under their respective rule. All the madmen who refused to cooperate with him were branded as "remnants of assassins" and arrested and imprisoned.

For a time, from the south of the Yellow River, all the areas controlled by the Red Turban Army were full of rumors. The "remnants of the Assassins" who were executed, had their homes raided, and forcibly sent to the mines to serve hard labor far exceeded the number of Assassins themselves at the disposal of the Huaiyang Governor's Office. So much so that the streets and alleys, teahouses and wine shops, it is difficult to hear the voice of politics. Neighbors met by chance on the road and looked at each other.

The only one who reacted slowly was the Mengyuan court. When the news that Zhu Tuhu was lucky not to die reached Dadu, the private soldiers led by Chahan Timur and Li Siqi had already fought with the Fourth Army of the Huai'an Army in the north and south of the Yellow River. In the previous battle, the 5,000 soldiers and horses who crossed the river in Chahan were killed by Chen De and Chen Zhishan, the deputy commander of the Fourth Army. In the latter battle, the Fourth Army took advantage of the victory to chase the two brigades north of the Yellow River, but fell into the joint encirclement of Chahan and Li Siqi, and was in a dilemma.

"These two idiots, the old man just told them to find their own fighters. I didn't let them get on fire! Prime Minister Hama received the "good news" from Shanzhou, and was so frightened that he threw Bingcui Feitian, which had just been bought back for less than three days, to the ground, and was immediately shattered.

"Be careful, sir! Bingcui is easy to prick! Several loyal servants immediately rushed forward, holding him to the chair not far away. While bringing a dustpan and a broom, he carefully cleaned up the ice and green fragments on the ground.

They didn't get a good reward for their kindness. Dayuan Prime Minister Hama was like crazy, and kicked the slaves close to him to the ground one by one, piercing his hands full of blood, "Stupid donkey, stupid donkey with no brains and no eyes." The old man is careful, and he still needs to be taught? Get out of the old man, get out and get the board. The old man doesn't want to see you today! ”

"Yes, sir." The slaves were beaten, but they did not dare to cry out. Hunched over, while meeting Hama's big feet with his back, he continued to quickly clean up the glass shards on the ground, "Adults are angry, adults are angry." It's good for the minions to get their own boards, don't stretch your thighs! ”

"Get out!" When Hama heard this, he couldn't kick anymore. He put away his feet hatefully, and drank angrily: "Hurry up and clean up, and get out as soon as you're done." The board will be recorded in the account first, and the offense will be doubled another day! ”

"Thank you, Lord for your grace, the minions will get out!" The slaves were overjoyed and kowtowed to the pain on their bodies.

"If you want to get out, hurry up and close the door to the old man." Hama frowned impatiently and continued to scold. An ice cui flying sky is worth ten strings of good money in Yangzhou, although it is not expensive, it is rare to see the shape of the flying sky. That chest, that ass, and that half-hidden clothes, this Yangzhou trader, in order to make money, really don't even want to face.

Thinking of the word "making money", his heart trembled again for no reason. Gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Call Chen to join the army to the old man, and invite the old man." Ask him to come and repair the old man's book! ”

"Yes!" The servants agreed in unison, and walked out backwards with a dustpan full of glass shards. After a while, the door of the house was pushed open from the outside again, and Chen Liang, a strategist hired by Hama with a lot of money, hurriedly walked in and saluted him, "Subordinate Chen Liang, I've seen my lord!" Best wishes, my lord".

"Excuse me!" Hama waved his hand and commanded angrily, "Between you and me, there is no need to be polite." The old man came to you today to ask you to write a warrant for the old man to write a warrant for Chakhan Timur. Tell them to surround three and lack one, let go of the south, and let Chen Zhishan withdraw the team by himself! ”

"Yes! My lord! Chen Liang didn't think about it, agreed loudly, and then walked to the bookcase and began to grind the ink. But halfway through the grinding of ink, his arm slowly stopped, "My lord"

"You don't have to ask, just give them orders." Ha Ma was angry, frowned, and added loudly, "With an army of 100,000 to surround the other people's six thousand people, he and Li Siqi still have smug faces." In case the Nazhu butcher is provoked and sends all five legions under his command across the river, will the two of them dare to stop the butcher Feng Sakura?! ”

"What your lord says is very true!" Chen Liang, who joined the army, nodded vigorously, "But the lowly position, the lowly duty is worried, but it is not whether you should give an order to Chahan Timur, but whether you should give an order, or send someone to pass it on?" ”

"Is there a difference?" When Hama heard this, his brows tightened slightly. Immediately, he nodded and said with some gratitude, "Well, the old man sent someone to inform those two fools." lest the handwritten book be seen by some people and take it out to make a fuss! However, "

After a pause, Hama quickly added. "The old man can't give people a handle, but he can't let the two volunteers do whatever they want. By the way, you write a letter to my brother Xuexue and ask him to find a way to mediate between them. It is said that Chahan and Li Siqi acted without authorization, and were not instructed by the imperial court. If the Zhu butcher is willing to quit the army, it is easy to say. If the Zhu butcher refuses to quit! ”

"Uh-huh!" Stopping and hesitating, he finally said in a very low voice, "Just let Xue Xue act cheaply!" It's a big deal, cut off the heads of Chahan Timur and Li Siqi and hand them over to Zhu Butcher to calm down this fight! ”