Chapter 6: Blood Oath

Although Wu Yueguo claimed to be subordinate to the Central Plains court, because the land boundary had been blocked by the Southern Tang Dynasty, which established itself as the emperor, it was no different from the independent kingdom except for paying tribute to the Central Plains court by sea. The so-called tribute was mainly for maritime trade, and to reduce the threat of the Southern Tang Dynasty to the Central Plains court and Wu Yue Kingdom by claiming to be subordinate to the Central Plains Imperial Court and forming a situation of flanking the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Although the area of Wuyue King's Palace is not as large as Chang'an Palace, it is magnificent and exquisite far beyond other countries, and its elegance and beauty even exceed the palace of the Liang Dynasty, the suzerain, and has the reputation of "Heavenly Palace on Earth". Among them, the main hall of Qinzheng Hall is even more splendid.

The next day, the morning court in the Qinzheng Hall was carried out as scheduled, and at the beginning, it turned out to be the Queen Mother's political affairs as usual. At that time, the etiquette was not as strict as that of the Ming and Qing dynasties, although the Empress Dowager Xu was only in her thirties and a young woman, she did not hang the curtain when she went to the court, but sat side by side with Qian Hongzuo on the doubled throne to face the court. Qian Hongzuo has always rarely spoken in the court, and everything is decided by the queen mother after consultation with the minister, and the same is true on this day.

After discussing the daily government affairs, Empress Dowager Xu said with a solemn expression: "Ladies and gentlemen, have you heard that there were murderers who assassinated the saint yesterday?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu's voice was calm, her eyes were like a cold sword, she glanced at the ministers, and everyone's expressions were in full view in just a moment. Most of the courtiers were stunned.

Dai Yun, the generalissimo of soldiers and horses, was adopted as an adopted son by the former king because of his son, and enjoyed the dignity of the king's uncle. Hearing Empress Dowager Xu's words, Dai Yun stood up, and Shi Shiran asked, "Who is so bold and reckless?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "This person's crime is heinous, and it is difficult to offset his crime with a thousand cuts." Master Merchant, inform your Excellency of the crimes to which the Assassins confessed. ”

A trace of imperceptible consternation flashed on Dai Yun and Qian Hongzuo's faces. Qian Hongzuo knew that the assassin had been hacked to death by the guards in the Xixin Hall, and his mother actually said that he had confessed something, which was really unbelievable.

The chief merchant first saluted the queen mother and the king, then turned to the jade steps, and said to the ministers of civil and military affairs: "Last night, I interrogated the captured assassins overnight. The Assassin confessed that he was not from Wu Yue, but a dead soldier recruited by a mysterious organization called the Yakshamon, a gang that wanted to usurp Wu Yue's royal power. They first poisoned and killed His Royal Highness the prince Hongxu three years ago, and then set fire to the royal city, wanting to take advantage of the chaos to kill the first king, fortunately, the first king was blessed by the gods and escaped this catastrophe, but the poor people of Hangzhou City were killed and injured countless times because of the fire. The year before last and last year, they murdered two prime ministers of our country one after another, and yesterday they sent him to assassinate the saint. The next step of the Yaksha Gate is to blow up the Hanhai Stone Pond built by the military and civilians led by the Holy Ancestor, so that the water of the Qiantang River will pour into the city of Hangzhou, flood Hangzhou, and kill all the people in the city. ”

There was a shout under the jade steps.

Dasi Nong Zhen Fu asked angrily: "What kind of hatred does this gang have with me Wu Yueguo?" And you want to put our people to death? Who was the mastermind that the Assassins could confess? ”

The chief merchant sighed: "The assassin who was captured only knows that the master of the sect wants to seize the throne of Wu Yueguo. But he didn't know who it was. I have exhausted the punishment, and that's all he said. I think that the master of the door also knows that what he has done is a matter of unconscionable conscience, and it is quite hidden. It is possible that the Assassin did not deliberately conceal it, but that he really did not know his true identity. ”

The ministers were again talking. Some people secretly aimed at Dai Yun, the generalissimo of soldiers and horses, out of the corner of their eyes. Wu Yueguo has suffered a series of disasters in recent years, the year before last, the two prime ministers who were assassinated last year were both ministers of Tuogu before the death of the first king, and were ordered to assist the Empress Dowager Xu until Qian Hongzuo grew up and was able to govern in person. However, the power leans towards the government and the opposition, and Dai Yun, who was originally trusted by the first king, is not among the ministers of Tuogu, and the implicit meaning has long been clear in the hearts of many ministers in the city.

Empress Dowager Xu said angrily: "This mastermind behind the scenes, in order to seize the throne, brutalized the people of Wu Yue, killed the ministers of Wu Yue, assassinated the monarch of Wu Yue, killed people and set fires to everything. If such a mad demon really succeeds, my Wu Yue Kingdom will definitely be ruined, the country will not be a country, and the people will become fish and meat. Such rebellious ministers and thieves are punished by everyone. The mourning family is willing to make a blood oath with all the lords in the court: I, the military and civilians of Wuyue country, have an enmity with this national thief, and vow to break the body of this national thief into thousands of pieces!! When he said the last sentence, his tone was resolute.

The military ministers below the jade rank echoed in unison: "The ministers are willing to go to the soup and swear to kill this national thief!! ”

Empress Dowager Xu nodded happily, turned to Qian Hongzuo and said, "Holy Lord, the head of Shang has drafted a blood oath overnight, are you willing to swear an oath with all Aiqing?" ”

Qian Hongzuo said excitedly: "The lonely king swears to kill this thief!" Avenge the blood of the tragic death of the royal brother and the two prime ministers, as well as many people! ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Very good. Holy Lord, it is up to you to take the lead in stabbing the blood and signing the blood oath edict. ”

The chamberlain presented the blood oath that had been prepared on a tray, and the edict was generous with the accusations of the Yaksha door. Next to the edict was an awl for piercing blood. Qian Hongzuo glanced at the edict, then pricked his finger, dipped the blood in the special blank space behind the edict, and wrote down the words Qian Hongzuo, the king of Wuyue.

Empress Dowager Xu did the same.

Next, the blood oath edict was handed to Dai Yun, the generalissimo of soldiers and horses. Suddenly, the entire court fell silent, and all eyes were focused on Dai Yun, who only felt as uncomfortable as if he was being burned by fire. This blood oath was equivalent to a curse to him, but he could not refrain from participating in the oath. Otherwise, he would consider himself to be behind the Assassins. In desperation, he stabbed a small hole in his finger and scribbled his name.

Subsequently, the edict was passed among the ministers of civil and military affairs, and it took a while for all to be signed. The whole process ostensibly swore an oath to deal with the national thieves, but it implied the meaning of letting the ministers of civil and military affairs make a poisonous oath against the rebellion.

Empress Dowager Xu took the blood oath edict that the ministers of civil and military affairs had all been named, and said to the general manager: "You personally posted this blood oath edict at the main gate of Luocheng." Three years ago, the people of Hangzhou suffered greatly. Regardless of whether they are high or low, the people who are willing to sign this blood oath are allowed to do so; If you can't write, you can press your handprint if you want to. Even if it's a memorial service for the deceased relatives and fellow villagers. ”

The chief merchant respectfully accepted the blood oath edict, held it steadily, turned around and walked out of the palace of diligence quickly.

Empress Dowager Xu said to the ministers of civil and military affairs: "Wait a while, the assassin will be executed at the main gate of Luocheng." This murderer should have been killed with a thousand knives and Ling Chi, but for the sake of his confession, he was demoted to a dog execution. Ladies and gentlemen, please follow the mourning family to the Victory Gate Tower in Yacheng to watch the execution. ”