Chapter 3 abolish the emperor

Regardless of the attitudes of Cao Cao and his ministers, Dong Zhuo's plan to abolish Liu Bian is still proceeding in an orderly manner. Not long after, Dong Zhuo transferred Zhu Jun, who had supervised the Heishan Rebel Army in Hanoi, back to the capital with an edict, and in name gave him the official position of Doctor Guanglu, but actually removed the famous general from his military power.As for the hostile Montenegro Uprising, the imperial court calmed down and appointed its leader, Zhang Yan, as the general of the peacemaker, and acquiesced in his self-government in the Montenegro area.Immediately afterwards, Dong Zhuo enlisted Huang Wan, the governor of Yuzhou, to join the court in order to prevent him from raising troops to rebel nearby.

A few days later, Dong Zhuo went out of the city in person to welcome the arrival of a great person with the most solemn etiquette—Xun Shuang, a famous scholar from Yingchuan.In the end, because he could not escape in time, he was besieged by Dong Zhuo's men in the village. Under repeated threats, he had no choice but to enter the court and become an official.Dong Zhuo is like a treasure, and he wants to use this folk sage to decorate his new court, so as to stabilize the hearts of scholars. In the blink of an eye, it was already September, the weather was getting cooler day by day, and the harsh westerly wind came again.The cool wind rolled the fallen leaves and blew them in the courtyard, making a rustling sound, and from time to time, a few leaves wafted onto the Yutang Hall of the court meeting.

At this moment, there was no sound in the hall, and the civil and military ministers sitting in a row were like clay idols, motionless.The throne above was empty, and everyone could hardly remember how long it had been since they had seen the emperor. Only Dong Zhuo was dictating and controlling the court under the imperial steps. Today's court meeting is even more different from the past, because there are two hundred Xiliang warriors wearing armor and looking murderous outside the hall.All the officials held their breaths and lowered their heads, and no one even dared to raise their eyelids casually.However, Dong Zhuo also remained silent, pacing up and down in the center of the hall patiently, waiting for the Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, the head of all officials.

After being silent for a long time, he suddenly heard a rush of footsteps outside the hall, and then he walked into a young official, who was serving as the censor to disturb Longzong.Serving Yushi was originally an official who served the emperor, but now that he couldn't even see the emperor's face, he was changed to serve Dong Zhuo. Disturbing Long Zong quickly stepped into the hall, tremblingly bowed down in front of Dong Zhuo: "Report Dong Gong, Tai Tuo, an old man, can't come today." "Why didn't you come?" Dong Zhuo glanced at him. Disturbing Longzong wiped off the dripping sweat, and explained: "The old lady Fu has a cold."

"Hmph! It's fine if the old guy doesn't come." Seeing that his color was wrong, Chaolongzong quickly got up and wanted to go back to work. Dong Zhuo suddenly grabbed his collar and said angrily, "Do you want to back down right now?" "Mr. Dong, I'm innocent..." "Innocence? Why didn't you untie the sword when you went to the palace?" Dong Zhuo let go of his hand and pushed it away.He was so fat and strong that he pushed Disturbing Dragon Sect into a somersault and slammed into the palace pillar heavily. This fall and bump was really not light, it took Zuolongzong a long time to struggle to get up, he hesitated and said: "Xiaguan... afraid that Dong Gong will be anxious, so he hurried back, and he forgot in a moment of haste."

"Forgot?" Dong Zhuo sneered for a while, "Have you forgotten the rules and regulations of the court? Let alone carrying a sword in the hall, how can it be reasonable for Li Qing to pay respects to the three princes? You clearly don't pay attention to this old man, Sikong!" Chaolongzong repeatedly kowtowed: "I don't dare! I don't dare! I hope Dong Gong will forgive me." "Forgive? It's too late. Come on! Push it out and kill it!" Dong Zhuo glanced at the officials with a deliberate provocation after shouting, "This is the imperial court's etiquette. I don't think the ministers will have any objections to punishing him. ?” He arbitrarily executed the minister, but in the name of upholding etiquette, no one dared to speak out against it, and watched as the two warriors dragged the desperately struggling Chaolongzong out.The shrill begging for mercy became smaller and smaller until finally it turned into a complete silence, which made people break out in a cold sweat, fearing that it would be their turn next.

Cao Cao sat calmly among the officials, without any sense of danger.He knew very well that Dong Zhuo wanted to win him over to attack others, so he was safe now.However, if Dong Zhuo made a big fuss and killed Chaolongzong, it would be tantamount to making a warning to others. Looking at today's situation, I am afraid that he is going to make that shocking move public. Sure enough, Dong Zhuo said loudly: "I, Dong Zhuo, will serve the great Han Dynasty forever, and I am willing to protect the country's etiquette...but now, there is someone in the harem who does not respect the etiquette and women's morals, and this person is the Queen Mother He!"

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers raised their heads and stared at Dong Zhuo with horrified eyes. Dong Zhuo turned a blind eye, and said slowly: "The Empress Dowager Dong of Yongle is the late emperor's biological mother, and lived in the palace for a long time. But why did she force her out of the palace in the name of concubine, causing her to die of grief and anger. Wouldn't it be against a woman to act like this?" Is there a festival of filial piety?" Seeing that there was no strong reaction from everyone, he was quite satisfied, and continued with his hands behind his back, "Today, you are fatuous, incompetent, weak and not a king. In the past, Yiyin released Taijia, and Huo Guang abolished Changyi. The classics are called good by later generations. I think the current queen mother should be like Taijia, and the current emperor should be like Changyi. The mother and son should be abandoned and exiled. Although King Chenliu is young, he is benevolent, filial and intelligent, and can inherit the great rule..."

The civil and military officials can be described as shocking. From ancient times to the present, how can there be such a domineering official who talks about abolition and establishment openly.The emperor is just a little timid, what else is wrong with him?Ever since you Dong Zhuo came to Beijing, how has he ever been a political director? Is there any chance for him to make mistakes?Although everyone thought so, they did not dare to interrupt him.The more Cao Cao listened to it, the more he found it funny: that day he didn't even know who Huo Guang was, but today he said frankly that "Yi Yin let Taijia go, and Huo Guang abolished Changyi". I don't know how long he has been patiently reciting.

What Cao Cao said was true, Dong Zhuo had put in a lot of effort for this remark, he thought about it and told it according to the scriptures, counting the future and today's immorality, it took a long time to finish, he secretly let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he recited it correctly.But looking around the group of ministers, seeing everyone shaking their heads and whispering to each other, they suddenly became angry and shouted loudly: "Abolishing the current emperor and changing the emperor of Chenliu is for the sake of the righteousness of the world! Anyone who dares to obstruct this will be dealt with by military law. "

The blood of Chaolongzong was still wet, but he brought out the righteousness of the world again. After hearing what he said, everyone immediately calmed down. Dong Zhuo smiled slightly when he saw that no one dared to object.Unexpectedly, at this time, an old official came out of the class to worship, and said loudly: "Since Taijia was not established in the past, Changyi has committed more than a thousand crimes, so there is a matter of abolishing the establishment. Now the Lord is in the prime of spring and autumn, and he does not lose his virtue. It is not a comparison of the past. Besides, King Chenliu is only nine years old, how can he handle government affairs? It is a big taboo to abolish the elders and establish a young state. If we, the ministers, abolish the establishment, the crime will be even worse. Please, Dong Gong... " When everyone saw it, it was Shangshu Lu Zhi who spoke.Dong Zhuo's expression changed from sunny to cloudy when he heard his objection, and before he finished speaking, he shouted: "Shut up! The blockers are punished by military law, didn't you hear? Someone, push him out and kill him!" Lu Zhi is no better than the unknown junior who disturbed the Longzong. He killed the word, and another person hurried out of the class and knelt down: "Dong Gong calm down, keep people under the sword!" I am in the way of great discussion, but I have a heart of loyalty, and I am concerned about the affairs of the world. Besides, he has made great contributions to the country in conquering the Yellow Turbans, and I hope that Mr. Dong will spare him extrajudicial grace." After saying this, he kowtowed again and again. Cai Yong came to Luoyang only at the invitation and coercion of Dong Zhuo, and within three days he had held three posts, and Dong Zhuo couldn't refute his face.After a moment of stupefaction, Yilang Pengbo also knelt out: "Lu Shangshu is a great Confucian in the country, and people hope for it. If he is harmed today, the world will be terrified, and no one will dare to serve the court. Please also Dong Dong Please forgive me, the court is lucky, the world is lucky!" Dong Zhuo gritted his teeth, he never expected that there would still be people who would dare to challenge his authority.He looked at Lu Zhi angrily, and said for a long time: "Well, for the sake of the two adults, I will spare your old life. But capital crimes can be avoided, and living crimes cannot be escaped. From now on, your official position will be forgiven! " When Lu Zhi saw that he dismissed himself without the emperor's edict, he sighed and said, "I have done my best, and it seems that it is irreversible. Even if you don't dismiss my official position, I have no intention of staying in the court again." Go down." After saying that, weeping, he took off the hat and leather bag and put them on the couch, then turned around and bowed to the empty dragon seat, and staggered down the hall. Seeing him walk away, Cao Cao stretched his neck, and couldn't help feeling sad: How much has this Lu Zhi suffered for the country?Discussing the Yellow Turban was framed by the eunuch, and his two sons were killed by the thieves. On the night when the eunuch rebelled, the officials took revenge and massacred him. He was the only one who loyally chased the holy driver and drove across the river at night. Today, he almost died because of a few words of loyalty The fate of being dismissed from office.How could Dong Zhuo act like this for a long time? Seeing him go, Dong Zhuo turned his head and looked at the vacant seat at the front—that was Yuan Kai's.Taifu is the Shanggong, and his status is still higher than the three princes of Taiwei, Situ and Sikong.Lu Zhi reminded him with a few words that the Yuan family also had a high prestige, and he was still an old official of Yuan Kai in name, and if he didn't ask for a word today, he would be troubled in the future.Thinking up to this point, he turned his eyes to Yuan Shao, Captain Sili: "Yuan Benchu! What do you think? Do you agree with the abolition of the establishment?" Yuan Shao stood up slowly and bowed, neither humble nor overbearing, and said loudly: "The lower officials agree with Dong Gong's proposal. But..." "But what?" "Such important matters should be discussed with the Taifu. After all, my uncle has the name of assisting the government." Dong Zhuo was a little impatient: "Your uncle deliberately took money and refused to come to the court meeting." "Uncle is old and weak, and he has been frightened recently. It is possible to be sick for a while, but it will not delay the court's affairs." Yuan Shao reached out and picked up Bai Yan beside him, "Dong Gong, don't worry, I will pass it on to uncle's house now. If you say it, I think the old man will not object." After finishing speaking, he hurriedly retreated without waiting for Dong Zhuo's reply. "Wouldn't the affairs of the world decide against me? I'm doing it now, who would dare not follow?" Dong Zhuo watched him retreat, and said mockingly, "I think the Taifu is old and can't handle the affairs of the court anymore. Let him recuperate at home with peace of mind! Now The post of Taiwei was led by Liu Yuyao, the shepherd of Youzhou. He fought against the chaos in Hebei, and was blocked by Montenegro. Let me draft the edict." Now his words are verbal instructions, Shangshu Zhou Yu readily agreed, but said: "Mr. Dong is a Taiwei, naturally no one is dissatisfied, but I have something to ask." Dong Zhuo was quite surprised, and glanced at him: "Why are you bothering me today? If you have something to say, talk and fart!" The officials in the court felt ugly when they uttered such vulgar words, but Zhou Yan smiled and turned a deaf ear, and said: "Liu Yu's clan is an important minister, and he should not be dismissed easily. If Dong Gong is a Taiwei, can he be changed to Da Sima? To show your preferential treatment to the clan?" "Okay! You can figure it out." Dong Zhuo now trusts Zhou Yan quite a bit.But he doesn't understand history, the position of Taiwei originally originated from Da Sima, and the two are actually one.Zhou Yan made an official-like enemy for him in the distant Youzhou. A stone fell to the ground, and Zhou Wei held up his wat and said again: "I encourage Dong Gong to be the edict of the Taiwei, but I encourage you to do it. However, if the emperor's edict is abolished, I am afraid that we and other ministers will find it hard to say it." He is also unwilling to be this sinner through the ages , so the ugly words are in front. "You don't need to do this, I've already prepared it." Dong Zhuo had already asked Tian Yi to write the edict to abolish the emperor, "You just read it out at that time, and I will add you as a servant after reading it." Zhou Wei pretended to be grateful Bye-bye, all the ministers glared at him without knowing it.Cao Cao's heart is clear: If you want to kill people, you must first flatter and serve them. Zhou Zhongyuan can bear what ordinary people can't bear. I might as well learn from him.When he looked up, he saw Dong Zhuo looking at him with a smile, and hurriedly nodded with a smile to show his approval. Dong Zhuo got the approval of Yuan Shao, Zhou Wei, and Cao Cao, and his confidence grew for a while, and he asked the officials again: "The big plan has been decided, who else would dare to stop it?" The ministers did not dare to disobey any more, and the servant called out, "I obey your orders." Following this burst of helpless statements, the murderous atmosphere dissipated, and Dong Zhuo announced that a grand ceremony would be held in the coming day to help Chenliu Wang Liu Xie to the throne, and asked all officials to come together. A thrilling court meeting was finally over.The officials retreated one after another as if they were narrowly escaped from death, they did not even dare to look at the warriors when they left the hall, and hurried away.Just as Cao Cao stepped out of the palace gate, Dong Zhuo shouted behind him: "Meng De! Have you thought about that matter?" Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, pretended to be happy, and said with a flattering smile: "Today, the court officials have agreed with Dong Gong's intention. I am very pleased, and I am willing to drive Dong Gong from now on." He turned around and bowed. Dong Zhuo rushed forward and gave him a hug: "Wait for me! Since you are willing to help me, you will be your own brother from now on. There is no need to talk about such hypocrisy. After the new king is in place, I will immediately ask you to take charge of all the people in the West Garden. Camp. Do it well!" "Thank you, Mr. Dong, for cultivating it." While talking, Dong Min suddenly ran over in a panic: "Brother! Yuan Shao has escaped!" "What?" Even Cao Cao didn't expect it. "Just now he left the palace and didn't return for a long time, so I sent someone to Yuan Kai's mansion to ask him, but he didn't go there at all. I was suspicious, and I sent someone to watch at his house, and I saw Wang Jie hanging high in the hall. , he has taken a few people out of the north gate non-stop." Dong Zhuo was so angry that his beard cocked up: "Damn! Send someone to chase me quickly. Besides, isn't his family in Runan? Send someone to kill his wife and children!" "Wait a minute!" Zhou Yan came to the front from nowhere, presumably he had been staying not far away, observing Dong Zhuo's movements all the time. "Zhong Yuan, Yuan Shao's traitor has escaped, what's your plan?" Dong Zhuo turned his head and said. Zhou Yan pondered and said: "It is very human wisdom to abolish and establish a great event. Yuan Benchu ​​was only a disciple of the ancestor's grace. He didn't know the general idea and was afraid, so he ran away. If Dong Gong was eager to arrest him, he would definitely change. Thinking about Yuan Benchu The clan has four generations and three lords, disciples and old officials are all over the world, if Yuan Shao recruits heroes to gather his disciples, and heroes arise from it, then Dong Guan is not the land of Dong Gong!" "Well, it makes sense... Could it be that he was told to escape like this?" "No." Zhou Yan said decisively, "From the opinion of the following officials, Mr. Dong might as well pardon him and choose a small remote place and let him be the governor of the county. Yuan Shao is happy to be spared, so there will be no more trouble." Dong Zhuo seemed hesitant, and asked Cao Cao, "Do you think this plan is feasible?" Cao Cao hurriedly struck while the iron was hot: "Zhou Zhongyuan's words are really an old-fashioned strategy for seeking the country! Guandong scholars value kindness and righteousness the most. If they can forgive, the righteousness lies in the public, and the scholars admire them; if they punish their families, the righteousness will be lost to them. I'm afraid Scholars are eccentric, so they change!" Dong Zhuo patted his thigh: "Okay! My lord has a lot, let him go and give him a little sheriff. Anyway, his uncle is still in my hand, so I don't believe how big a wave this kid can make." Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief, and thought, "You are blind. Yuan Shaozhi is far more famous than Bao Xin. Give him a county, and you will never have peace." "Meng De, Zhong Yuan! The two of you comfort the ministers for me. Tomorrow's abolishment ceremony must not be slackened. The old man is loyal and do things for me well. I will not treat you badly in the future." "Promise!" The two walked towards each other, and they all looked at each other sideways.Although they didn't speak words, the two had the same idea: let's accept it for now, let's coax him to play! On the second day, that is, Jiaxu in September of the sixth year of Zhongping (AD 189), Luoyang Palace held another court meeting. This time, the 17-year-old emperor Liu Bian, the 9-year-old Chenliu king Liu Xie, and the queen mother He were all present in the hall.Under Dong Zhuo's instruction, Shang Shu Zhou Wei came out of the class and recited his orders in public: 〖Emperor Xiaoling did not pay attention to Gaozong's eyebrows and longevity, and abandoned his courtiers early.The emperor inherits Shao, looks from the sea, but the emperor is frivolous, lacking in dignity, indolent and lazy, and declining as before; his evil virtues are manifested, obscenity is heard, the artifact is damaged, and the ancestral temple is polluted.The empress dowager has no motherly rites, and the government is in chaos.Empress Dowager Yongle collapsed suddenly, and everyone was confused.The way of the three cardinal principles, the discipline of heaven and earth, but there is a flaw, and the crime is the greatest.Chenliu Wangxie, with great sage virtues and magnanimous rules, has the appearance of Yao's map when the abundance is lower and the upper is higher; living in mourning and mourning, words can't be evil, and the nature of Qiyi has the Yi of Zhou Cheng.Xiu Sheng said that what is heard in the world is suitable for inheriting Hongye, it is the tradition of all generations, and it can inherit the ancestral temple.The abolished emperor became King Hongnong, and the empress dowager returned to power. 〗 After the reading of this strategy of using ministers to deceive the master was finished, the doctor ordered Li Ru to step forward and pull the trembling Liu Bian down from the dragon seat.Poor little emperor, Uncle Lai He Jin tried his best to help him to ascend the throne. He was deposed as King Hongnong after only five months of reign. The cries of Empress Dowager He lingered in their ears, and the officials couldn't bear it.But before everyone could react, Dong Zhuo had personally carried Chenliu Wang Liu Xie to the dragon seat.Liu Xie was still young, and he didn't seem to understand what happened. He blinked his small eyes and looked around the officials, not realizing the pain in his life in the future. The officials were at a loss, not knowing whether Liu Xie, who was established in this way, could be regarded as the real emperor.Situ Dinggong felt that the situation was not good, and hurriedly said to everyone: "Heaven is a disaster for the Han Dynasty, and there are many mourners. Hetian people, please say long live!" After saying that, he bowed down first.Hearing this, all civil and military officials knew that if they did not bow down, disasters would follow. They quickly knelt down with Ding Gong and shouted long live to Liu Xie three times.But Dong Zhuo stood beside the little emperor with an arrogant face, sharing the bowing down of the officials. However, Cao Cao and other careful ministers seemed to have picked up some implication from Ding Gong's words.He mentioned that offering sacrifices to Zhong and abolishing Hu Litu was a matter of the state of Zheng in the Spring and Autumn Period.However, it was under the intimidation of the Song people that Jizhong abolished Gongzihu and changed Gongzitu to Zheng Ligong.As the Minister of Gu Ming of the Zheng State, it is really not a good talk to change the monarch under the threat of the enemy country.Ding Gong is very knowledgeable and will never use allusions wrongly. He put Yi Yin and Huo Guang's two bright examples in comparison, and instead cited the example of Ji Zhong. This is probably an ominous omen! After Cao Cao finished his nine knocks, he stood up and looked at the new emperor. He couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion: the affairs of the world seem to have been predetermined in the dark.He Jin led the scholars to fight several times before killing Jian Shuo and setting up the eldest prince Liu Bian.Unexpectedly, all the hard work was in vain. With Dong Zhuo's visit, the dragon seat finally went to Xiao Liu Xie...