The Chinese have admired loyalty since ancient times, and if they adhere to this belief at all costs in troubled times, it is both very luxurious and very valuable, so it is usually famous in history and admired and praised by the world. If this insistence is out of place, or if it comes at an unnecessarily heavy cost, people often call it "stupid". The so-called eternal hardship is the only death, no matter what, people who can put life and death aside in order to uphold their beliefs can at least afford the evaluation of "admirable".

Wei Su, who was once known as the first general in Great Xia, has already stood in the ranks of "chaotic ministers and thieves" and has become a prisoner. However, Wei Su stubbornly insisted that the usurpation of the crown prince was out of the righteousness of the country and the people, so he had no regrets and was determined to carry out the really lackluster coup to the end.

Pei Xianzhong, the attendant of the East Palace, can only be regarded as a gambler who wants to ascend to the sky in one step and bet heavily on speculation, and he has stepped into the ranks of eunuchs without paying attention but with dramatic glory. The conservative scholars who didn't want to support Zhao Heng and the pedantic Qingliu literati who didn't want to die raised him to the height of Taishi Gong, who endured humiliation and wrote "Historical Records", and suddenly became famous, and he was transformed from an unqualified staff member by the prince's side into a model of loyalty to the master. Pei Xianzhong, who unexpectedly lost two taels of weight, therefore had a strong reason to continue living, and lived more impassionedly than before. - Lao Tzu is already like this, who is afraid of whom? Instead of enduring humiliation and stealing life, it is better to fight against the tide and fight for a good reputation as a model of loyalty and righteousness.

"Ling Chi" and "extermination" are the most common words in rebellion cases since ancient times, and tens of thousands of people have been widely affected by the ground. Yang Zhi's claim that he had made a great merit was not a lie, the emperor not only had the intention to control the attack surface, but also did not have the heart to kill. Even so, the number of people imprisoned for the prince's usurpation case is still in the hundreds. Although his mood and status were completely different, Pei Xianzhong was able to become as famous as the famous Wei Su overnight, as if he had become a spiritual role model for the Chinese ministers and military generals of the party of the abolished prince.

The power of example is endless. The vast majority of the imprisoned princes were expected to be inextricably ill, and in their view, the so-called awaiting trial was nothing more than the emperor needed to concoct a copy of the indictment that proved their heinous crimes. Left and right is a death, why should you vainly fall into the infamy of being greedy for life and afraid of death? Saying goes. There are hundreds of people, all kinds of people. Although not everyone regards death as home, there are those who are ready to kill and go to death calmly, and there are those who have a trace of luck in their hearts. There are also those who feel wronged and deeply unworthy. Even the three marquis of the Li family and others believed that there were no eggs under the nest, so they only remained silent in frustration. No one cried out for mercy, and even if anyone wanted to do so, they were afraid that they would be drowned in prison if they didn't wait for it to reach the emperor's ears. Or the black hand behind the confusion. It is because the entire prison of the Criminal Department is shrouded in an atmosphere of helplessness, grief and desolation, as cold and gloomy as a pool of stagnant water.

If Xu Wenhan can't even understand and ponder the thoughts of these people, then it's not Xu Wenhan.

These people are all rolling around the emperor, and they are all high and powerful before, either rich or noble, if they are tortured to extract confessions, first of all, the emperor will not be able to pass the pass, and they will bear the notoriety of cool officials, which is despised by the world, so Xu Wenhan didn't think about the word torture at all.

The first thing Xu Wenhan did after receiving the decree was to go to the prison of the Criminal Department in person with the holy decree in his hand in front of a group of relevant officials, and after announcing the decree to inspect the circle, he stopped and returned home. There was no further news that day.

On the night when Zhou Ting, the general of the forbidden army, staged a mutiny to welcome the emperor back to the palace, these people were controlled by the guards, and then immediately imprisoned. The emperor listened to the advice of Xu Wenhan and Wang Yunong at that time, and in order to prevent them from colluding in trouble, preventing them from committing suicide in fear of crime, and preventing them from being plotted to kill them, the prison officials of the former Criminal Department were all abandoned, and the forbidden soldiers under Wang Wenguang and Yan Fang were called to guard them closely. The princely party had actually been isolated from the world since that night, and there was no way to know what was going on with the outside world. However, from ancient times to the present, once they are included in the list of rebels and rioters, what will happen to them, these people think they know better than anyone else. Even if you dare to think about anything. I just don't dare to think about whether there is still a way to live.

Therefore, people such as Wei Su, Pei Xianzhong, and the three marquis of the Li family who were originally killed and couldn't pee in their pants didn't need to make a series of confessions at all, but there would be a strange scene of unity and unprecedented unity on the surface.

Xu Wenhan prescribed the right medicine, and first prescribed them a soothing prescription: I don't have any background of forces behind me. I didn't have any grudges with you before. If I have to say that I have a background, my only backer is the emperor. Now I am the minister who was ordered to preside over the trial, and Wei Feiyang, the only son of Wei Su, has eight friendships with me, even if I have no courage to show favoritism, I still have the heart of favoritism, at least I will definitely not fall into the well and put you to death for no reason. But what is the emperor's mind? I don't know. The reason why the prince Zhao Heng usurped was because he was "held hostage". Zhao Tianyang, the general of the Imperial Court of the First Evil Yuan, has already been ambushed. -- That's what the holy decree says, so weigh it up for yourselves!

The second thing is that three lists have been drawn up. The deposed prince Zhao Heng is still imprisoned in the former East Palace Prince's Mansion, and the rest of the prisoners are divided into three groups according to the list, and they are detained in three prisons in the Criminal Department, the Inner Court Guard's Mansion, and Dali Temple. ―― Together? Monolithic? Vitality, maybe there is still a squeeze. Whether everyone is going to die, think about it separately and then talk about it!

The third thing Xu Wenhan did made Yang Zhi almost laugh dumbly, which was comparable to the policy of preferential treatment of prisoners in his previous life. Assign special personnel to serve elaborate meals, clean the prison on time to keep it clean and tidy, and even allow prisoners to bathe and change their clothes every day...... Except that there is no personal freedom, what is the difference with a nursing home? The purpose of doing this is nothing more than to be for the emperor's kindness. -- The emperor is merciful, and I, Xu, am also kind. Only absolute obedience to the emperor is to obey the heavens, you won't be unable to understand such a simple truth, right?

But the emperor's benevolence is not only forced by practical needs, but also has a bottom line, and Xu Wenhan's kindness is also limited, at least within the scope that the emperor can tolerate. There are clouds in the book of war: attack the heart for the top, and attack the city for the bottom. In fact, Xu Wenhan's measures before the trial had a very good effect on disintegrating and dividing the already not so solid princely alliance.

The vast majority of people can still understand the situation, and now they are like a handful of bedbugs in the emperor's hands, when to pinch one or a group to death, it will be an easy thing for the emperor at any time, it all depends on his old man's mood. Why does the emperor have to slap your ass? How can I have spare time to play with you? Since the road to life has opened a trace of ambiguous doors, the fool is only running to the road of death! Within three days, people in various prisons took the initiative to petition for guilt. It is nothing more than a gratitude for the emperor's grace and a deep sense of sin. I implore you to be lenient and make meritorious contributions.

As soon as the prisoner in prison should submit the book, it will naturally be handed over to Lord Xu Xiangxu, who is ordered to preside over the trial, to review it first, and then submit it to the imperial review on his behalf. Because of this, Lord Xu suddenly returned to his old business. As a teacher, you have to pick out a few people with good writing and flexible minds to "talk alone" and give detailed guidance on their pleadings claiming that every word of blood and tears. However, after six or seven days, it has become a trend in prison to write a letter to ask for guilt, and everyone is vying to be the first. Lord Xu transformed. From the chief examiner to the chief examiner. The proposition is clear, and the article is up to each of you to do. If you can be a monkey that saves your life, why bother to be a chicken that is a monkey? Everyone feared that if they were half a step slower, they would be robbed of one of the few pardon places by others. As a result, although all the letters of guilt are wonderful and have their own merits, they are all closely related to the proposition, and the content is similar.

Xu Wenhan's soldiers were invincible without a fight, but there were two people who remained unmoved: Wei Su and Pei Xianzhong.

The emperor gave Xu Wenhan a month to try the case of the prince's rebellion, and the purpose mentioned in the decree was very clear, "to hear and hear the world with righteousness". For this reason, Xu Wenhan was appointed to preside over the trial on the 17th day of the first month of the 26th year of Wucheng in the Xia calendar. It took a full ten days to do enough mental work in the early stage. Until the 28th of the first month, Wei Su was officially arraigned in the lobby of the Criminal Department.

The three Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, the Criminal Department, and the Ministry of War are all old oilmen of the officialdom who have been in the sea for a long time, and although they are ordered to "meet" for trial, they all say in unison that "everything is only Xu Xiangma's head." Xu Wenhan only smiled, and did not say much about false humility.

Wei Su was dressed in a white-washed indigo robe as usual, but his eyes were sunken and his face was sallow, and he looked more and more skinny than before. Rao is like this, and he has shackles and torture instruments on his body. Gu Pan still reveals the majesty of commanding thousands of troops and horses and looking at the world. Xu Wenhan couldn't help but sigh secretly: The number one general in Qingben Daxia could have died a good death in the high position of the Tai Lieutenant, but why didn't he do his best to encourage the unsuccessful son-in-law to seize power?

Wei Su's expression was calm, and after going to the hall. In the scene, it did not make Xu Wenhan and the three Shangshu of the jury embarrassed, and he knelt down and kowtowed to the mountain to call the emperor long live, long live, long live, and then said unhurriedly: "The criminal minister Wei Su has seen Xu Xiang and the three Shangshu lords." ”

Xu Wenhan sighed: "I haven't seen you for a long time, and General Wei has decreased again. ”

Coughed lightly and went straight to the point: "The abolished prince Zhao Heng was held hostage by Zhao Tianyang, the former general of the Inner Court Guard, with the intention of killing the monarch and plotting rebellion, why did General Wei participate in it in a moment of confusion?" Is it convicted? The emperor is the king of the Holy Wisdom. As long as the general confesses his guilt and pleads guilty, the official will act truthfully. ”

Xu Wenhan's words seem vague, but in fact, he said it very clearly: the emperor has already defined this case, the abolished prince was "hijacked" by Zhao Tianyang, and the mastermind is the dead ghost Zhao Tianyang, and you are also an accomplice who is "confused for a while". As long as you confess to the emperor, the emperor doesn't want your life, it depends on whether you can go to the Tao.

As the saying goes, it is the apprentice who speaks, and the master who is obedient. The meaning of Xu Wenhan's words is obviously quite explicit, but he can't find the slightest fault anywhere, and he has no worries about being attacked and defended by others. The three Shangshu involuntarily exchanged glances: it is no accident that this person can be ranked in the high position of Zaifu at a young age!

Unexpectedly, Wei Su didn't appreciate it at all, and smiled indifferently: "The criminal minister Wei Su is grateful for the emperor's grace, and he also thanks Xu Xiang for his kindness, but he can only understand it." ”

Wei Su also pleaded guilty, but it was very different from what Xu Xiang said. It is true that the prince is being held hostage, but the mastermind is Wei Su, and the responsibility for the crime should be borne by me, and it has nothing to do with others. Zhao Tianyang is just a general of the Imperial Court Guard, how can he be innocent? I am so tired that he has died, how can I bear to let him bear the infamy of the ages? The crown prince was deposed, the queen and the princess died one after another, and the criminal minister Wei Su was a person who could not be redeemed! ”

The clerk of the Criminal Department who was responsible for recording the confession on the side took a pen and recorded Wei Su's words word for word. Xu Wenhan couldn't help frowning and secretly shouted badly, and the three Shangshu also looked at each other and couldn't cry or laugh.

I only heard Wei Su continue: "Since Xu Xiang promised to truthfully play the words of the criminal minister to the emperor, then Wei Su will express his chest directly today and vomit it as soon as possible." As the old saying goes: Wen dies and fights to the death. In fact, whether it is advice or war, it is just that the battlefield is different. As Xu Xiangfang said, today's emperor is a rare saint and hero in troubled times. However, since the emperor ascended the throne, the expedition to the east and the west to open up the territory and expand the territory has not stopped for a day, and the martial arts are extremely prosperous and there is little civil governance. Don't you hear the pitiful and uncertain riverside bones, you are still a person in a deep dream? Do you know that the territory of Great Xia is expanding day by day, and how many sons and daughters are forged by the blood and white bones? How much of the hard-earned money and grain of the Li people are piled up? ”

"Wei Su is not a pedantic person, it is not that he does not understand that the general trend of the world will be reasonable for a long time, and he also knows that the pace of the world will eventually return to unification is unstoppable. But the people of Li in Great Xia are too bitter! Flying Tiger Hou Yang Zhi once said: If the people are water, the water can carry the boat or overturn the boat. It's really deafening! Isn't the ancient strong Qin also after more than ten generations of monarchs worked hard and took hundreds of years to dominate the world? Why does the emperor have to dry up and fish overnight? Why not take a break with the people at the right time and do what you can? After two or three generations of successors, why not complete the great cause of dominating the world? ”

When Wei Su said this, his emotions were slightly excited, and his thin and sallow face flushed: "I was born in a poor boy and joined the army, from a pawn to a general, and I have been following the emperor to fight for more than 30 years. Wei Su has never had the slightest selfishness! The emperor was blindly obsessed with conquest, and had no sympathy for the people's strength, so that the people's livelihood was embarrassed without knowing it. It is necessary to know that although the ambition is far away, the people's power is exhausted! Once the people's resentment is boiling, the country's capital will be shaken, and Daxia will be in danger! I also know that the prince is not the lord of the strategy, but he is benevolent and diligent, and it is difficult to achieve great success in starting a business, but there is more than enough to keep it, and he can take on the responsibility of governing the world and benevolence. However, because of this, the emperor was deeply disliked, and the position of the prince was in jeopardy. In order to protect the longevity of the Great Xia country, Weisu has an unshirkable responsibility! ”

His eyes flashed eagerly and said: "I implore Xu Xiang and the three Shangshu lords to play the emperor, Wei Su is definitely not a chaotic minister and thief." The Weisu soldiers failed to admonish, and now they are willing to admonish with their lives! As long as the emperor stops the conquest, stops the fighting, and sets aside ten to twenty years to recuperate with the people, even if he loses hundreds of lives of the Wei clan, he will die a well-deserved death, although he will die without regrets! ”

Xu Wenhan sighed and sighed: "Xing, the people are suffering." Death, the people suffer. It's been the same since ancient times! The topic of this section is too big, the benevolent will see the benevolent and the wise will see the wise, and the official does not want to engage in a senseless verbal dispute with the general. I don't know if General Wei has ever thought that instead of letting the people of Li pay the price of several generations one after another, why not sacrifice a generation with the power of the country, so that future generations can enjoy peace and prosperity? ”

Wei Su said proudly: "As long as the expedition continues for a day, there will be no peace in the prosperous world!" I will turn my heart to the bright moon, when will the bright moon shine on my heart? That's all the sinners say, please don't say much. Oh, although the dog is a little talented, but the talents of Daxia are like clouds, there are not many of them, and there are not many of them. Although Xu Xiang has eight friendships with Xiao'er, he must also distinguish between public and private, and never use the future as an excuse to lobby again. ”

Wei Su said this point, which is equivalent to blocking all the retreats. Xu Wenhan waved his hand dejectedly and said, "Please don't be impatient, general, let's go back and think about it clearly!" - Retire! ”

Wei Su was bent on death, fantasizing about using this to persuade the emperor to change the established state policy. Xu Wenhan felt deeply sad and helpless. A Wei Su is still so difficult to bite, and Pei Xianzhong, who has been punished by the palace, is even more lice and is not afraid of itching, isn't it even more difficult to deal with? On the evening of this day, Xu Wenhan, who was depressed, naturally went to the Flying Tiger Marquis Mansion to inform Yang Zhi of the details of the preliminary trial.

Yang Zhi was silent for a long time after hearing this, and an unpredictable smile appeared on his face: "I will turn my heart to the bright moon, when will the bright moon shine on my heart?" Hehe, the next sentence should be the bright moon shining on the ditch! In fact, how could the bright moon shine on the ditch? If I had such an unenlightened Lao Tzu as Feiyang, it would be strange if I wasn't so angry that I vomited blood and died! Wei Su is so stupid! - The eldest brother is still a little kinder, you haven't pinched Wei Su's seven-inch sore spot, and it is not difficult to deal with goods like Pei Xianzhong! (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) )