Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-Two

Thinking of what he had seen and heard in the past few days in the city, Zhang Tang further appreciated the wisdom of the emperor's cutting down the feudal domain.Among other things, this Liu An insisted on building Shouchun City into a small Chang'an.The people in Huainan only know Liu An but not the emperor. Even the Jiangtuan he likes to eat is called Huaiwangyu by the common people.As for the luxury of the price, the bowls are made of glass, the plates are made of ivory, and even the tofu is made of gold bottles and silver spoons.If such a country within a country is not eliminated early, it will endanger the country one day.

Thinking of tofu, Zhang Tang asked: "When I came here, I heard that Shouchun is rich in tofu. In the past, Liu An always gave it to the emperor as a tribute to taste. It is as white as jade and smooth in the mouth. I will invite the general to taste it today." How about the tofu feast?" Gongsun He said with a smile: "Thank you Lord Ting Wei for your kindness, let's talk about it after the case is over." They went down to the top of the city while talking, only to see the prison envoy come forward and say that Huainan Guozhong Lang Jiang Wu was here to plead guilty.

The two hurried to the vestibule, only to see a person kneeling on the ground. Although his clothes were messy, he could vaguely show his elegance.He was being escorted by two soldiers, who presumably were Wu quilts. As soon as the two sat down, Wu Bei spoke: "The guilty minister Wu Bei came to plead guilty." Zhang Tang looked at Wu Bei and said: "You come here to plead guilty, as long as you confess truthfully, the emperor will think of you for your crime and meritorious deeds, and maybe you will be merciful outside the law and forgive you." Wu was repeatedly kowtowed, and then confessed the ins and outs of the rebellion one by one.

After hearing this, Zhang Tang exchanged glances with Gongsun He, looked at Wu Bei with disdain and said: "The current emperor, benefiting all people, benevolent to all nations, Wei Jia Hai Nei, the Xiongnu terrified, Nan Yi surrendered. Huainan is so mere Dare to covet the power tripod, isn't this mantis acting like a chariot and overthinking his own strength?" "The guilty minister has advised Huainan Wang and his son many times, but he ignored it. Today's blood is splashed on Shouchun, and the criminal minister is helpless." "Do you know where Shan Hanru is now?"

"The sinner also doesn't know his whereabouts. Since he left Shouchun, there has been no news." Zhang Tang learned from Wu Bei's confession that Liu An had committed suicide, Liu Qian attempted suicide with hatred, and the palace was in chaos.He hurriedly asked Zongzheng to enter the palace on the Han Festival to search for the remaining criminals. The Han army quickly took control of all parts of the palace. Thousands of people from the prince to guests, maids, and Huangmen were detained one by one. For several days, under the guidance of Wu Bei, the Han army searched every corner of the palace, and obtained a lot of evidence of the rebellion of Liu An and his son.

Zhang Tang and Gongsun He immediately moved the Xingyuan from the prince's mansion to the palace.In accordance with his duties, Gongsun He dispatched troops to the streets and alleys of the city to post notices on the safety of the people, advocating the emperor's kindness to let the people live and work in peace; Zhang Tang and Zong Zheng interrogated Liu Qian. Liu Qian's sword wound was deep, and despite treatment, it has not improved.When he was carried into the interrogation room, his face was pale and his eyes were dim. According to the procedure, Zong Zheng first showed Liu Qian the Han Festival, indicating that they came to investigate the case in accordance with the emperor's will.

Liu Qian was like a wounded wolf, his eyes full of sadness.Facing the urging of death now, his heart was torn into deeper wounds by resentment and regret.He hated Liu Che, why he controlled thousands of miles of land and mountains; he blamed his father, if it wasn't for his indecision, why would he have failed today; From the crown prince to the prisoner, he was driven and controlled by an invisible force. He didn't understand that this force was actually his desire for power. When he collided with Zhang Tang's gloomy gaze, endless fear suddenly arose in his heart, and he suddenly imagined that Liu's blood relationship could bring him a glimmer of life.

With such a state of mind, Liu Qian did not conceal the crime he committed.His voice is very low, and he often has to repeat the details of certain events under Zhang Tang's questioning; he is not good at words, and his words are fragmented and chaotic. However, based on the confessions of Liu Qian and Wu Bei, Zhang Tang had a general understanding of this conspiracy that had been brewing for decades, but Zhang Tang was not satisfied. "What else, Your Highness might as well think about it again." What Zhang Tang wanted was his relationship with those two thousand stone officials who were ordered to come to Shouchun.He has his own calculations, even if those maids and Huangmen are interrogated and imprisoned, they will not be worth the weight of an official of two thousand shi.

"Actually, I also know that both your majesty and your highness took the risk because of the bewitching of your subordinates. If your highness can truthfully tell the truth about their crimes, maybe the emperor will consider your blood relationship and forgive your serious crime." Zong Zheng was surprised when he heard Zhang Tang's words.As a court lieutenant, how could he induce a confession?He secretly tugged at Zhang Tang's sleeve, but Zhang Tang pretended not to know, and continued: "Your Highness probably doesn't know yet, Mr. Liu Ling has been arrested for spying on the court. Even if you don't tell me, I can still Get the prison word."

Zongzheng hurriedly stopped Zhang Tang's words and said, "Your Highness still..." Before he finished speaking, Zhang Tang stopped him and said, "Even Mr. Zongzheng is worried for His Highness, what are His Highness's scruples?" What could be more alluring than being alive?The desire to survive made Liu Qian walk into Zhang Tang's trap step by step.Every time he confessed to a group of people, Zhang Tang chased after him: "How is it possible? According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, the princes and kings must obtain the consent of the prime minister, internal historian and lieutenant if they want to send troops in the country. How can they do something like this?" Maybe you didn't participate?"

"Maybe they were in direct contact with the father. But the father..." "This means that the King of Huainan knows their whereabouts. In other words, they participated in the actions of the King of Huainan." "This……" "That's how things are..." Zhang Tang confidently asked Cao Cao to write down Liu Qian's statement. After such a step-by-step trial, hundreds of officials including Nei Shi and the lieutenant were involved.But Zhang Tang was not satisfied, and continued to search for the reasons behind the rebellion. Liu Qian pondered for a long time, and even told a story that left Zhang Tang and Zong Zheng stunned. "The matter has to start from the second year of Jianyuan." Liu Qian had to stop to breathe because of the pain from the wound on his neck. "In October of that year, the father went to Beijing for a pilgrimage, and the emperor sent Tian Taiwei to Bashang to meet him. The Taiwei once said to the father that the emperor has no sons now, and the king is the grandson of Emperor Gao. His practice of benevolence and righteousness is known all over the world. Once the bus Yan Jia, who is not the father? But the father is seventeen years older than the emperor, so it is not a joke to wait until the emperor is a hundred years old?" "So, you waited to secretly plan to replace it?" Liu Qian stopped talking and closed his eyes wearily. Zhang Tang asked Liu Qian to mark the confession.At the moment when he was carried out of the interrogation room, Liu Qianhui glanced at Zhang Tang and asked, "Sir, can you really..." "It depends on His Highness's fortune..." As a juror, Zong Zheng was at a loss. He couldn't figure out why Zhang Tang involved so many people.As soon as Liu Qian left, he turned back and asked impatiently, "Do you really want to intercede for Liu Qian and Liu Ling?" A sneer appeared between Zhang Tang's eyebrows: "Such a big case is related to the survival of the country, how many heads of the lower officials dare to intercede for them?" "The lord..." "The next official is also loyal to the emperor. If you don't get rid of the evil, you will have endless troubles in the future." Zongzheng was still puzzled: "So, isn't someone wronged?" "Compared with Dahan Sheji, which one is more important?" Zhang Tang said, and shouted to the outside, "Come here!" "Your subordinate is here." The Prison Envoy came in in response. "Quickly bring the internal history and the lieutenant to the case. When the matter is settled in Shouchun, we will send them to Chang'an together!" "promise!" "My lord..." Zong Zheng was stunned. Under the heavy rain of Qingming, the car ran over the muddy road in Yangling Town, passed through the grand and well-organized triple gate, and entered the mausoleum area of ​​Emperor Jing and Queen Wang. Liu Che's eyes were a little sour, and the time passed unconsciously, and when he looked back suddenly, he was already thirty-six years old.And the emperor's father had been buried in the vast Xianyang Plain for twenty years. He stepped on the felt laid on the floor tiles, walked all the way to the dormitory, raised his eyes and looked around the entire cemetery, those past memories seemed to come back to his mind in an instant. Just like the splendor and majesty of his life, his father also embodies the dignity and rank of the royal family under the nine springs. The emperor's mausoleum, which is twelve feet high, stands in the shape of a bucket in the rain curtain. To the east of the emperor's mausoleum, a little behind is the mausoleum of the queen. Looking north along the mausoleum of the queen, the smaller mausoleum in the northeast Li Ji lay depressed and died. The royal father had complicated emotional entanglements with the two women he once favored, and once played out a storm of abolishing the crown prince.Now they are all dead, lying here quietly, watching the Weishui rush eastward in front of their eyes. Around the cemetery, from west to east, there are funeral tombs of old ministers arranged in a checkerboard shape.They served the court during their lifetime, and felt honored to be able to accompany the emperor after death. The sacrificial ceremony is solemn and sacred, and the momentum is particularly magnificent. A huge team of nearly 2,000 people, under the command of several lieutenants, was deployed from Yangling Township to the front of the mausoleum, with flags and streamers flying along the way, guarding Deyang Temple, Quelou and the sleeping hall. More than 380 Zhu Zai Le people, led by Tai Leling, were distributed on both sides of the ancestral temple or the sleeping hall, playing sacrificial music, and the long sacrificial procession moved forward slowly. At noon, Dazai ordered to present "Tailao" according to etiquette.At this time, the musicians only sing carols, showing the solemnity of the ceremony. The emperor comes to the altar, and the four sides Chengyu.The rope will change, and it will be ready. Qing and Liuhe, the number is five.Tranquility in the sea, prosperous culture and Yanwu. The rich woman in the back land, Zhaoming Sanguang.Mumu Youyou, Jiafu Shanghuang. Everyone was immersed in that solemn atmosphere.The blessings of God, the peace of heaven and earth, the unification of the four seas, and the prosperity of the country, shine on the land of the empire like the sun and nourish everyone's heart. Then, from the silence came the congratulations of Tai Zhuling reading the sacrificial oration.The lines between the lines are full of eulogizing the great achievements of the first emperor and reminiscing about the queen's grace and virtue. Next, they played the music of "Xiu Cheng" and performed the ceremony of "Nine Bows". Under the service of Huangmen and Gong'e, Liu Che and Wei Zifu put their hands on the ground, bowed their heads to the ground, stayed for a while, and then slowly got up and returned to the palace. in situ. Immediately behind was seven-year-old Liu Shi, who was supported by Bao Sang and Chunxiang, knelt down in front of his ancestors, bowed his head to the ground, and got up immediately. Although Liu Ju was young, he was meticulous in performing the sacrificial ceremony. Liu Che and Wei Zifu felt endlessly gratified when they saw Liu Ju's serious appearance. The son is the bond, one end is in the emperor's hand, the other end is in her hand, and on this belt are three hearts that care for each other. The immature and solemn behavior of the son offering sacrifices to the ancestors aroused Liu Che's childhood memories. He was only four years old when he was named King of Jiaodong.Every time I go to Sixian Garden to accompany the prince to study, I always look at my mother reluctantly.This emotion made him think that his mother was the most beautiful woman in the world even after he ascended the throne and became emperor. But now, facing his mother's tomb, his mood is very complicated and chaotic.He remembered the news that Zhang Tang had sent from Shouchun a few days ago—the late Prime Minister Tian Fu had betrayed his nephew because he accepted a huge bribe from Huainan King. Did the queen mother know what Tian Fu did when she was alive?Perhaps, she was also deceived by him. Now, Liu Che is standing in the rain, his thoughts are endless: it is such a duplicity Tian Fu, but because of his mother's protection, he has escaped the prosecution of the Han law time and time again. Liu Che didn't understand why Tian Fu, who was a Taiwei back then, cursed himself for having no descendants, so as to please a prince who had a different heart? If the queen mother is alive, how will she face this harsh reality?If Tian Fu is still alive now, he will definitely have a conflict with the Queen Mother on the issue of how to deal with his uncle.Fortunately, both he and she went first. As a son, he couldn't give a clear evaluation to his mother who had been buried in the ground. Liu Che's thoughts spread out from the rain, and surged like clouds around the issue of establishing an heir. Although the suspects in the Huainan and Hengshan cases have not arrived in the capital, the overall situation has been settled.Tian Fu's actions back then made him realize the urgency of enlisting the crown prince. Yes, this spring, he has been in charge of the country for 20 spring and autumn, he can no longer procrastinate, leaving opportunities for those Liu An-style characters... Thinking of establishing an heir, Liu Che's heart quickly returned to Wei Zifu's side. He was very grateful to Wei Zifu for giving birth to Liu Zheng after entering the palace.But these days, he has neglected her because he is indulging in singing with Mrs. Wang. When returning to the city, Liu Che specifically asked Bao Sang to arrange Wei Zifu, mother and son to sit with him. Wei Zifu's heart was full of comfort.For a long time, she hadn't listened to the emperor's breathing so closely. Although the current emperor lacks the unrestrained and romanticism of the past, he has more of the steadiness and fortitude of a mature man.And the emperor was talking to Liu Shio kindly, and the voice was like soft Qingming rain, drifting into her heart. "According to children! What have you been doing lately?" "Father, the queen mother wants the child to read." "Hehe! Tell me, Father, listen to me." Liu Ju looked at Wei Zifu and said, "My child, I'm afraid it's not good." "You just say it, Father doesn't blame him." Liu Ju then shook his head and said back: "The Master said: 'Respect the five beauties and reject the four evils, so you can go into politics.'" "What do you mean by that?" "Father, this is what Confucius said when he answered his students' questions." "What are the five beauties?" "The Master said: 'A gentleman is beneficial but not wasteful, labors but not complaining, desires but not greedy, peaceful but not arrogant, majestic but not fierce.' These are the five beauties." "What are the four evils?" "The Master said: 'Killing without teaching is called malaria; not watching it is called violence; being slow to order until the deadline is called thief; just like dealing with others, and being stingy with cashiers is called being in charge.' These are the four evils." Liu Che was secretly delighted by his son's intelligence, but he was still not satisfied. He wanted to hear how his son understood it, so he asked, "Then what does it mean to be lustful but not greedy?" Liu Ju said without hesitation: "If you want benevolence and get benevolence, how can you be greedy?" Only then did Liu Che nodded in satisfaction: "You only understand some righteousness now, and you will have to delve deeper into it in the future. If I choose a strict teacher for you, I will definitely make progress every day." Liu Che looked at Wei Zifu again and said , "It seems that it's time for him to enter Sixian Garden." Wei Zifu's heart skipped a beat. Sixian Garden is the place where the prince studied and was taught. Could it be... She didn't let her thoughts go any further, but turned to her son and said, "Thank you, Father." Liu Ju hurriedly said, "I thank you, Father." The huge royal convoy arrived at the original head of Xianyang, and it was going downhill any further. From a high perspective, under the transpiration of the sun after the rain, Nanshan Mountain is surrounded by mountains and haze, which is a piece of freshness.Next to these scenes is the ruin of Qin Wang's palace. All of these made Liu Che more determined to establish an heir.He must not allow the tragedy of Qin's death to repeat itself behind him... The scene of the emperor getting close to Wei Zifu's mother and child was seen by the eldest princess sitting in another car, and these changes touched her sensitive nerves.What does it mean that the emperor and his son are talking and laughing happily? what!She couldn't help but put her hands on her beating chest—could it be that the emperor is going to establish a crown prince? Once this thought dominated the emotions, the eldest princess immediately felt a burst of heat, and beads of sweat oozed from her head.She asked herself in her heart, was the revenge against the queen these two years a mistake, would it create a gap between the prince and her? But when she looked back with an uneasy heart, she saw Wei Qing's car.Her eyebrows widened, and she wanted to use her husband to restore her relationship with Wei Zifu as soon as possible. In any case, Liu Ju was his nephew, Wei Qing's nephew, even if he became the prince, he had to rely on Wei Qing to ascend to the throne in the end.She believed that no matter how turbulent the court struggle was, Wei Qing's position in the court would never be replaced. "Okay! When we return to the capital, we will go to Jiaofang Hall." The eldest princess thought so. The car drove down Xianyangyuan slowly, and the cross bridge was in sight... In fact, not only Liu Che, but also Gong Sunhong, Li Cai and others also felt the urgency of establishing an heir. They were often amazed at the amazing similarities that the years would show in different ages.When the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion was quelled, Emperor Jing was just thirty-six years old, and the current emperor also quelled a civil strife at this age. Perhaps God has already predestined that this is the most sensitive period of the dynasty.Among them, the one that most affects the minds of all parties is the establishment of an heir.On the way back to the city, Gongsun Hong had already decided to urge the emperor to establish a prince early. He understands that he won't be in the position of prime minister for too long, and he must be loyal to a courtier within a limited time... After driving down the Xianyang Plain, Li Cai heard the sound of the Wei River. Li Cai felt that the speed of the car today seemed to be much faster than usual.Along the way, his mind was not on the scenery on the side of the road at all, but he was only thinking about when and how to put forward his advice to the emperor to establish an heir. In terms of being good at figuring out the emperor's mind, Li Cai is no less inferior to the master father Yan. The emperor brought Liu Ju to offer sacrifices to Yangling, which was a vivid symbol, which made him feel strongly that the establishment of the crown prince would soon be on the agenda. What the emperor needs now is the promotion of the courtiers to show that the establishment of an heir is an act of worshiping heaven.So, who will bear this responsibility? When his car followed Gongsun Hong, he saw his gorgeous hair fluttering like snow under the crown. The prime minister is old, and when he "jibai" in the bedroom, his hands and feet are stiff and he can't stand up for a long time. Well, the future prime minister... ah!Will the emperor let me go... In any case, he should seize this opportunity. He must send the memorial to the emperor's desk before other courtiers, and he must make it clear that Liu Shi is the best candidate for the crown prince.Regardless of the ancestral system or the status of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, it is an undisputed fact. Li Cai felt that the blood flow in his body suddenly accelerated.If it weren't for the strict driving order of the imperial court, he would have urged the driver to hurry up so that he could roll out the bamboo slips earlier to meet the call of opportunity. And at this moment, Xianyang Plain, under the setting sun, every place is bright after the spring rain...