"Then it's settled, then it's up to me to atone for Xiahou Sheng, and he doesn't have to leave Chang'an, he can still live in Chang'an."

Liu He pointed to the little internal official who came to pass on the message, and said, "You just go back and report back to the Queen Mother." ”

"No."

As the internal official walked out of the hall, the matter of "Confucian chaos" was temporarily suppressed, but Liu He understood that there was still turmoil behind it.

The news of this matter will be followed by the edict to Emperor Xiaowu to go to the temple, and gradually spread to all corners of the Han Empire, and there will be some small waves at that time.

But I'm afraid that it will be a month or two later, and Liu He has enough things to make some preparations.

The court and Confucianism are linked, and in order to solve the affairs of Confucianism, it is necessary to solve the problems of the imperial court.

"Father Zhong, in this way, there are many vacant positions in the court, and some talents must be promoted from the Lang officials as soon as possible to fill the court."

"There is also the vacant position of prime minister, and the candidate must be decided as soon as possible, the middle father must not forget this matter."

In addition to the old and innovation, the old has gone, and the new will naturally be needed.

"The old minister already has some ideas, but they have not yet been fully formed, and the small court meeting in a few days will be presented to His Majesty." Huo Guang said, deliberately emphasizing the small court.

Whatever happens in the small court meeting, there is room for reversal, and when it comes to the big court, it can't be turned back.

The Son of Heaven relies on himself a lot, but there are still some Meng Lang, and it is better for the small dynasty to negotiate.

But Liu He was sneering in his heart, whether it is a small court discussion or a big court discussion, you Huo Guang may not be able to say anything.

……

Inside the Imperial Prison, Xiahou Sheng was sitting alone in a damp cell.

Because it has been raining for a long time, even if it is sunny now, the reeds and grass on the floor of the cell are already moldy and smelly.

In the cramped cell, there was only a low bed, a desk, and a wooden barrel filled with filth.

Not even a single window.

Only a little sunlight shone down from the roof tiles, bringing a glimmer of light to the otherwise damp and gloomy cell.

The conditions in the edict are quite bad, and people have been locked up here for too long, even if they are not convicted of capital crimes, and they get out alive, I am afraid that their lives will be short.

However, Xiahou Sheng is alive and well, as an official with a rank of two thousand stones, he can still get some privileges even in the edict.

For example, the reed rods in the cell are changed more frequently, and the daily food is more, and the filth in the bucket is naturally dealt with by someone.

So even if he was locked up for half a month, Xiahou Sheng's body had not yet collapsed.

However, the doctors who were imprisoned with him did not have these privileges, and they complained every day.

At first, he shouted that he was wronged, but after a few days, he kept begging for mercy.

Xiahou Sheng sat on the couch, reading a volume of the Analects by the dim oil lamp

This reading is also one of the privileges, which was given to him a few days ago by Chen Xiu, the eunuch who was in charge of him.

It is also an elegant thing to be able to read a book in prison.

The point is that this volume of the Analects is quite interesting, and it is a version that Xiahou Sheng has never seen before.

It was more complete than all the previous editions, and the annotations were far deeper and broader than those he had ever seen.

Although the Analects is not in the Five Classics, it is a book that records the words of the sages, and its status is quite special, and if you are not familiar with the Analects, you are embarrassed to say that you are a Confucian scholar.

Even many ordinary people who do not have access to the scriptures can recite the Analects.

Like other scriptures, there are many schools of Analects, and Xiahou Sheng certainly read many of them.

But none of the Analects in hand are well annotated.

Could it be that some unknown rural Confucian scholar has solved it?

If this is the case, then the attainment of this Confucian scholar commenting on other scriptures must not be low.

I'm afraid it's on par with those doctoral officials in Taixue.

If he gets out of this prison one day, he will definitely find this unknown Confucian scholar and discuss the scriptures with him.

I just don't know if I can get out of this edict?

Although Xiahou Sheng stayed in the Imperial Prison, he also knew a lot about what was happening outside.

Xiahou Jian took Confucianism to make trouble, Yu Linlang cleared the troublemakers, and Zhu Doctor and Confucian were imprisoned...... These things all reached Xiahou Sheng's ears through the edict Zuo Cheng.

Xiahou Sheng was terrified when he heard this, he never thought that his nephew would do such a foolish thing.

Xiahou Jian was brought out by Xiahou Sheng since he was a child, although he was good at governing the scriptures, but the heart of fame was too heavy.

can admonish in the court, how can you incite Confucian scholars and the people to besiege Weiyang Palace?

Isn't this something that shakes the foundation of the Great Han?

It is understandable that Confucian scholars want to ask for a clear reputation, but they can't go so far.

So when he learned all this, Xiahou Sheng almost gave up the idea of getting out of this prison.

Thinking of this, Xia Housheng put the "Analects" in his hand on the case, stood up and moved his legs and feet.

At this moment, he no longer has any resentment towards the Son of Heaven, and if he wants to blame himself, he is too eager to speak, so that he makes a mistake in his busyness.

After Xiahou Sheng walked around the cell a few times, the door of the outer room was opened, and the tall Chen Xiu walked in.

"Is Xiahou Gong okay today?" Chen Xiu said politely.

"It's Gong Chen, with you to take care of me, and I can still have books to read, I'm afraid I'm the most comfortable prisoner in the 100 years since the founding of the Han Dynasty." Xiahou Sheng said.

When he doesn't talk about government affairs, Xiahou Sheng is not a very unreasonable person, just like Chen Xiu, who takes good care of him, he knows what kindness is.

"That's very good." After Chen Xiu said this, he did not withdraw as before, but took another step closer to the cell.

"Huh? Is there anything else Chen Gong has to do today? Xiahou Sheng asked.

"Two days ago, it was the day of the Great Court Meeting, and the crime of Xiahou Gong was decided."

"Oh, it turns out that this is the case, the old man is about to forget about it," Xia Housheng felt a little desolate, but still said with self-explanation, "It's a blessing or a curse, you can't hide from it, what punishment did the court sentence the old man?" ”

"The crime of great disrespect shall be punished with five sentences."

The air in the cell suddenly cooled, and the bean-sized oil lamp was crumbling and almost extinguished by the wind that came from nowhere.

After all, Xiahou Sheng was old, and after stabilizing his body, he stood still.

"Your Majesty has not destroyed the three clans of the old man, and the net is already open." Xiahou Sheng smiled miserably and asked, "What about the others?" ”

Chen Xiu didn't dare to hide anything, and said Huo Guang's initial conviction one by one.

The more Xiahou Sheng listened, the more shocked he became, and finally sat directly on the bed.

This Confucian student in Chang'an is a great injury to his vitality, and I am afraid that there will be many turbulent roots.

Xiahou Sheng couldn't help but feel some remorse, if he hadn't stood up that day to prevent the Son of Heaven from going to the temple number for Emperor Xiaowu, or if he didn't rely on the old and sold the old, and paid a little attention when he made a statement, then I'm afraid there would not have been such a tragic situation.

"It's the old man who is confused, and the nephew is confused."

"However, Xiahou Gong don't worry, this is the punishment proposed by the general and the court lieutenant, and the county official is in the court, begging the general to give a light sentence."

"Oh, and that matter?" Xiahou Sheng saw a glimmer of light.

Chen Xiuyou said the punishment after the commutation one by one, and Xiahou Sheng's face looked much better.

"As for Xiahou Gong, the general will never agree to a light sentence."

"It's okay, I'm in my last years, I live a few more days, a few days less, there is no difference, fortunately the county officials are merciful, so that Rulin will not be too badly damaged."

"However, the Empress Dowager Shangguan also interceded with the general, and the county official Renxiao took out money from the Shaofu to atone for the sentence of Xiahou Gong."

"Really?" Xiahou Sheng thought that there was something wrong with his ears for a while.

"Well, today, the county official specially asked me to come, and the county official has an edict......

Xiahou Sheng was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly bowed down on the wet ground, he still knew which was more important.

No matter what the Son of Heaven is, Xiahou Sheng still recognizes this monarch, not to mention that the Son of Heaven has not interceded with the Confucian scholars, and he has atoned for himself.

"Xiahou Sheng slandered Emperor Xiaowu, although it is an unforgivable crime, but it is still out of public heart, and it is appropriate for the Queen Mother to have teachers and students, I miss his old age, I can't bear to see his violent corpse, especially at his own expense to redeem his sentence, I hope to be cautious in words and deeds in the future, do not commit it again, for Emperor Xiaowu to go to the temple number, it is a foregone conclusion, there is no need to say much, there will be criticism in the future, criticism is in my bow."

These words are reasonable, neither humble nor arrogant, and have the demeanor of a wise and benevolent gentleman.

Especially the last two sentences, they have both a royal and a domineering bearing.

Although Xiahou Sheng still did not agree to give Emperor Xiaowu the temple number, he was already convinced by the Son of Heaven at this moment.

The Son of Heaven is the Ming Monarch, and the Son of Heaven naturally has a deep meaning for Emperor Xiaowu to go to the temple, maybe it is really his old eyes that he is dizzy and fails to understand.

"Old minister Xiahou Sheng, thank Your Majesty for your great grace."

"The ground is damp, please ask Xiahou Gong to get up quickly, the Son of Heaven still has something to hand over to you."

Xiahou Sheng hurriedly stood up, and Chen Xiu said in a low voice: "The county official can't bear to see everyone suffer because of this, but above the court, after all, he can't disobey the general's will, after Xiahou Gong goes back, someone will secretly send five hundred gold to the mansion, and Xiahou Gong will atone for everyone." ”

The stunned on Xia Housheng's face was even worse than just now, what kind of person is this Tianzi?

"Is this really what Your Majesty said?"

"That's natural, the five hundred gold was brought by the county official from Changyi State."

Xiahou Sheng remembered that this Chen Xiu seemed to be a subordinate official of the Son of Heaven when he was the king of Changyi.

"Gong Chen, what kind of person is this county official?"

Chen Xiu smiled and said: "The county official used to be the king of Changyi, and now he is the son of heaven of the Han Dynasty, and he will become the best emperor of the Han Dynasty in the future." ”

"Xiahou Gong, don't make a noise about this matter, lest there be extraneous branches, as for someone asking, where did this money come from, it will be said that a Confucian student who does not want to be named gave it to you."

"The old man understands."

After finishing speaking, Chen Xiu turned around and was about to leave, and when he left, Xiahou Sheng remembered another thing and suddenly stopped him.

"Chen Gong, there is another question, who is the author of this volume of "The Analects", but there is a second half of the volume?"

"The Confucian scholar who notes this "Analects" is called Chu Ji, a friend of mine, he has not finished this second half of the volume for the time being, after the annotation, I will bring it to Xiahou Gong Zheng."

"That's great, it's better to talk about it in person."

"It's nature."

Chen Xiu walked out, feeling a little funny in his heart, if you tell you who Chu Ji is now, I am afraid that you will end up with Yang Chang, and you will be paralyzed on the spot.

Your Majesty said that there is a way to kill people and punish the heart, but there is also a way to punish the heart without killing people

Today's four watches are 10,000 words, this is the second watch, and there are two more at half past six in the afternoon!

(End of chapter)