On the eighth day of June, outside the city.

In the middle of a forest, there is a wide clearing, the clearing is close to a big mountain, the site is artificially cleared, in the center of the clearing there is a huge tent similar to the Hun yurt, the tent is open on all sides, people can enter and exit freely. The surrounding ground is very flat, the flat ground is full of low tables, the low tables are very simple, they are made of wood, several cases are very compact, and they are also neat, each case has a meadow as a seat, and there is a high platform made of wood in the middle of the yurt, and there is a carpet on the high platform. When Bing Ji entered, he noticed a very strange phenomenon, except for the service providers and beggars, they all wore masks.

The masks were supposed to be made by themselves, and there were all kinds of them, some directly from a piece of linen cloth with two holes in it, and some were more elaborate, with patterns painted on them.

After two authentications, one is to draw a charge, that is, to sign, and those who do not know how to sign can draw a pattern; The patterns painted are also varied, some draw circles, some draw chickens, some draw pigs, and some draw flowers, flowers and plants.

What they draw is not explained, almost no one can recognize it, and after comparison, they can enter the second verification, which is actually just to print their fingerprints on a cement and write down a number. Then the ones who called Hanako took these things to a screen, and in a moment they were notified that they could enter.

Only Bing Ji and Liu Chang did not wear masks, and of course they did not draw or leave fingerprints. All the people who passed by them bowed to Liu Chang.

Bing Ji only replied to Liu Chang the day before, and he thought about it for two days. Liu Chang invited him, obviously with the intention of recruiting. Of course he can refuse, based on his observation of Liu Chang, Liu Chang is a person who values affection and righteousness, even if he refuses, he will not have to worry about his life. But what he finally made up his mind was curiosity and the desire to gamble. Although this child is the grandson of the emperor, he is too mysterious. Curiosity kills cats, that's true.

Liu Chang led him around, but on the way, he saw four people with identical horse head masks, and took the initiative to come over and salute Liu Chang. Liu Chang also introduced him to the four horse-headed people.

"We are a beggar gang, and these four are deputy gang leaders," Liu Chang said as he walked: "We have a total of one master, five horses and twenty-four halls, under the jurisdiction of more than 200,000 people, mainly distributed in Chang'an, that is, the surrounding seven regions. One master, that is, me, I am the helper. Liu Chang smiled and continued: "Wuma is the five deputy gang leaders, four of them you saw just now, and the other one is hiding. In order to prevent any emergencies, we are wiped out, and the dragons are leaderless.

Today's meeting is a regular meeting, once a year. It was mainly attended by people above the head of the hall, and there were 120 people. ”

"Why doesn't Brother Xian wear a mask? Those people wore masks, I guess they wanted to hide their identities. To prevent being betrayed or denounced, you, as the leader of the gang, should hide your identity."

"Hehe" Liu Chang smiled: "If I also hide my identity, in case someone impersonates, how can the people below tell the difference?" Wouldn't it be difficult? ”

"I see, Childe is really thoughtful."

"In addition, here are the backbone of the gang, the price for them to betray me is too great, and second, I am not afraid of betrayal! In the face of absolute power, they didn't have the courage to betray me," Liu Chang said confidently.

"Jiang Chong, Su Wen, Li Guangli, Liu Quyu, these people, they dare to betray the emperor, dare to betray the prince, and play the emperor and the prince in their hands, not how strong they are, but to see the weakness of the emperor. The strength of the emperor lies in the strength of millions of troops and hundreds of millions of people, not the emperor himself. My father was even weaker, he would be burned even if he killed a house slave, and he was helpless to be manipulated by a eunuch, and he was even more unfit to be an emperor. The emperor may have seen this and wanted to replace the crown prince, but the emperor's approach was too weak, and he was afraid that directly replacing the crown prince would cause turmoil, but unexpectedly, he caused even more turmoil.

If he had directly abolished the crown prince at that time, there would have been no such separation of flesh and blood. Liu Chang talked with a gloomy expression.

And Bing Ji was even more surprised next to him, and he didn't dare to say a word. He pitied the plight of the prince's family, he was indignant at the murder of the prince, he hated the person who framed the prince, he risked his life to preserve the prince's bloodline, but he didn't dare to evaluate the emperor and the prince like this, and the descendants of the prince actually didn't even seem to have hatred for the culprit who framed them to such a state, is this broad-minded or has another plan?

There seemed to be a fight on the other side of the tent, and there was a constant noise, and a circle of people surrounded the high platform in the middle, as if they wanted to drive the people on the platform down, but the people on the high platform could not hold on, and the two sides were deadlocked. Looking back at the gang leader next to him, he didn't seem to have any intention of intervening, just watched quietly, what kind of system is this!? These people should all be people with status, how can they be like splashing skin?

"Childe, there seems to be a fight over there." Bing Ji couldn't help it, and reminded Liu Chang, you hurry up and stop it.

"How good it is to fight and make trouble like this, and the reason for fighting and making trouble will be played, and there will be no bloodshed, let alone death."

In turns, those who went up were beaten or scolded down, and those who were scolded climbed up again, and there was chaos. It was almost two hours, and finally a gong went up, and everyone went down to the sound of the gong. Then, as if it were a vote, a show of hands. Then, another person who looks like a small official records, the same votes, the same records. In the end, as if it was over, the little official held a pile of bamboo slips and respectfully came to Liu Chang.

"Helper, eight themes and three appointments and dismissals have been recorded, please sign it, and there are four other proposals, please sign it."

"That's it?" Bing Ji thought it was incredible, the main leaders hadn't arrived yet, and it was over?

"Well, it's over!" See how easy it is to do something.

"I have only two powers: agree or dismiss. How good it is to do your part! Of course, if it is dismissed, they will continue to quarrel and continue to fight. Look, today we dismissed a deputy gang leader, everyone fought and made trouble, and the dismissed people did not complain, who told you that you can't win the majority of support, next time again! ”

"You're looking at them, just now the human brain was beaten into a dog's brain, and after a while, they drank and ate meat together. Just don't think too much about it, it's really easy."

Looking at the realistic scene, listening to Liu Chang's explanation, this is completely beyond the scope of his understanding, since ancient times, the supremacy of imperial power, the supremacy of leadership, the supremacy of the emperor of the imperial court, the supremacy of Chang'an Chang'an, the supremacy of the pavilion, the supremacy of the pavilion, the supremacy of the pavilion, the supremacy of the li, the supremacy of the family, the supremacy of the parents.

The emperor restricts the county guard, the county guard restricts the county order, the county order restricts the pavilion chief, the pavilion chief restricts the lizheng, and the li is restraining the parents. The Three Emperors and Five Emperors are so far.

For thousands of years, all people of insight have been looking for ways to limit imperial power, but this restriction is also limited to norms, and Dong Zhongshu Dong's celestial and human induction is only limited to warning and intimidation, telling the emperor, don't go too far, there is the sky watching, because the emperor has no constraints, only the supreme owner who wants to improve power can improve his consciousness and use the emperor's consciousness to limit his actions.

And the Legalists even more naked suppressed all forces other than the imperial power, telling everyone outside the imperial power that it is a gift from heaven to meet a good quality emperor, and you should be grateful to Dade; When you encounter an emperor of poor quality, you have to endure it, this is your destiny.

What we see today is that the supreme power is excluded from power and becomes a shadow, which is simply unreasonable. If it weren't for the inexplicable fear of Liu Chang's strength, if it wasn't for the fact that on the way here, Liu Chang repeatedly warned that only eyes and ears are allowed, and no mouths are allowed, Bing Ji would definitely scold and even kill this heretic.

"How do you feel" Liu Chang looked at Bing Ji, who was almost going berserk, with a playful face.

"Unreasonable!" This is the worst angry language Bingji can find.

The beggar gang, although it is only a small group, as long as it is a group, it has its own power structure, and as long as there is a power structure, it must abide by the rules of power, which must be followed by the emperor of the court and the head of the family.

"Farewell to the lower official" Bing Ji simply bowed his hand, turned around and left.

"Hey! Why did the elder brother leave in such a hurry, since he came, he would be safe when he came. Liu Chang grabbed the rampaging Bing Ji, still speaking softly.

"The Tao is different, and there is no conspiracy with each other."

"Qu Zi said: The road is long, I will seek up and down, and my brother only regards him as a quest for my younger brother, how about it? Lao Tzu also said: The elephant is invisible, and the sound is loud. The younger brother thinks that one more sentence should be added: separation of power or power. Hearing Liu Chang's explanation, the anger in his heart was also suppressed.

The situation is stronger than people, and Bing Ji is helpless.

"Decentralization of power, multiple policies, and separate policies can confuse everyone and cause chaos. Only by concentrating on strength can we do great things. ”

"Who said that if power is decentralized, there will be many governments and separate governments? Look at this item" Liu Chang took out a roll of bamboo slips and handed it to Bing Ji. This is a proposal to expel foreign businessmen.

"What do you think is the right thing to do?"

"Of course not, if each place only has its own local people and merchants, how can goods be traded?"

"Brother, let's take a look at the agenda and the results" Bing Ji opened the bamboo slips thoroughly, and saw that there were: 16 people agreed, and 98 people were against. "This proposal was rejected?"

"Yes, and the proponents of this bill must also be consistent with the bill, unless he can overturn the resolution, he must obey. Otherwise, he will face impeachment and punishment and sanctions. ”

"What if the resolution is wrong and it is passed?"

Then the resolution is no longer wrong. Besides, I am the leader of the gang after all, and I have the right of veto. After I reject it, if I want to pass it, it must be passed by all members to take effect, and of course, if I reject it, I must also explain the reasons. Putting all the conditions in the sun gives the greatest protection against mistakes and shady things. As for what my brother just said, concentrating on what can be done in a big way, has my brother ever thought that this big thing could be a good thing or a big bad thing? My home was destroyed by concentrated efforts, and I can't make a statement about it until now.

If my father had had a way to defend himself, I don't think he would be in the situation he is in now. Nor will it cause tens of thousands of deaths. ”

Liu Chang said coldly, holding his little hands behind his back, quietly watching the afterglow of the sun going down.

"I'm thinking about how we can prevent similar situations from happening, and that is to give them the power and opportunity to speak and defend themselves." In the afterglow, the shadow of the little man stretched long and became tall in Bingji's eyes.

Regardless of whether this matter itself is right or wrong, this idea is undoubtedly correct, and it does not deviate from the avenue, Mencius said, the people are important, the monarch is light, and the society is secondary, which is also the truth, Dong Zhongshu spared no effort to maintain the authority of the emperor, is it deviating from the way of Confucius and Mencius? Bing Ji finally felt doubts in his heart.

As the sun set, more than a dozen bonfires were lit in the clearing, and chickens, pigs, sheep, and of course wine were roasted on the bonfire. A group of rabble sang and danced around the bonfire, and their masked faces looked very strange under the reflection of the bonfire.