Han Shizu

At this time, the Chuigong Palace seems to be not in Ziwei City, Luoyang, but in Shancheng, Shanzhou, making it difficult to breathe.In the past two years, Emperor Liu's back has never been as straight as it is today. With his hands on the case, he stared viciously at His Highness Wang Yucheng like a tiger.

On the other hand, Wang Yucheng had a face full of fear, with many creases on his face. He talked freely and freely, describing his disadvantages of the Western Expedition and the failure of the imperial court. He could not restrain his excitement in his calm tone. The year is also suffocated.
It can be heard that what Wang Yucheng is most targeting is the imperial court's "four conscripts" to the northwest, namely grain requisition, horse requisition, military conscription, and military requisition. This is a "wartime policy" specially formulated for the Anxi conquest. When the imperial court first enacted , also considered the issue of people's power, issued an imperial edict, and temporarily replaced the regular tax with the four levies.

However, this sutra was misread after all. As time passed, the so-called "four levies" gradually evolved into exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes in addition to the regular tax. under the name.

Up to now, on the basis of the "Four Levy", the "Four Campaigns" have been played out. Some "smart" bureaucrats actively responded to the call of the imperial court and carried out "policy development" under the imperial policy.

In the name of donating to the Western Expedition, they act recklessly, but what is outrageous is that half of the resources exploited from the hands of the people can be used for the Western Expedition, which is very good. Where does the rest go? And metaphor.

Where did the resulting hardship and complaints from the common people point to?During the Western Expedition, in the imperial court, in Emperor Liu!The Western Expedition was originally a matter of Emperor Liu's efforts.
Of course, the situation in various prefectures and counties is different, it depends on the integrity of the officials in charge.There is no doubt about Wang Yucheng's integrity, but with his multi-faceted protection, the livelihood of the people in Shanzhou is still difficult. One can imagine how those bureaucrats who are not as strong as him and have no bottom line will behave. tough scene.

Wang Yucheng even gave an example to Emperor Liu. Zhu Qi, the magistrate of Hezhou, said this to his subordinate state officials: the people are very miserable, but the officials are even more miserable.Throughout the ages, there is no ordinary person who is not bitter. No matter how difficult the ordinary people are, they can survive by digging wild vegetables and eating tree bark.

There is also a Longxi political attendant named Zhang Jing who once said wildly that it was the imperial court's order to collect food from the west, and everyone in Helong was tightening their belts to live.These officials are the most difficult. They are oppressed at both ends. In order to complete their assignments, they endure humiliation, work hard, and work hard.

If the officials can't survive, fail to complete the tasks entrusted by the court, delay the great event of the Western Expedition, and the court unleashes the wrath of thunder, it will still be the common people who will suffer in the end, and what they do is also for the benefit of the common people.

Because there are worse situations, the "rottenness" in front of me is acceptable. Zhang Jing's argument fully embodies the principle of "better than worse".

When Wang Yucheng cited these two examples, Emperor Liu couldn't hold back anymore, his anger shot up to his forehead, and he slammed on the case with one hand: "This kind of dog is also worthy of being an official?"

Emperor Liu has been in power for more than 40 years, and he has heard all kinds of strange talks, but there has never been anything like what Wang Yucheng dictated today. It is shocking, heart-wrenching, and bloody. panic.

And what Emperor Liu cared about the most was obviously this point: the notoriety made him betray the court, and the benefits were all gained by those bastard bureaucrats. This was a situation that could almost break Emperor Liu's defenses.

After all, taking the heads of corrupt officials to appease the hearts of the people and ease the contradictions in governance is almost the emperor's best method.Now this trick has been turned by some Northwest officials, bold and reckless, unforgivable!

"Hehehe..." The old emperor let out a creepy laugh: "What happened to the Northwest? In the past ten years, the imperial court has rectified several times, so why are there still such wolf-hearted people who bully the emperor and harm the people?
It is said that troublesome people come out of poor mountains and rivers, but I see that not only troublesome people, but also treacherous officials and thieves! "

Unable to bear it, Emperor Liu began to open the map cannon, and whenever he made some remarks that were not in the brain, it also meant that the butcher's knife was about to be uncontrollable.

"Who are those two thieves you mentioned just now? The prefect of Hezhou? Longyou participating in politics?" Emperor Liu asked Wang Yucheng bitterly, with murderous intent in his words.

Wang Yucheng hesitated for a while, but still cupped his hands and said, "Return to Your Majesty, know Zhu Qi of Hezhou, Zhang Jing who participated in politics in Longyou?"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu took out a piece of order paper, picked up a pen and wrote it, swiped it quickly, and immediately raised his head and said to a servant: "Call the guard on duty!"

"Yes!" The servant ordered, and hurried out of the hall.

The servant's name was Ma Zheng, and he was the one who almost drowned when Emperor Liu fell into the water last year.Because of his commendable performance of loyalty, he was promoted logically. From an inner sage, he was promoted several levels in succession to become a sage supervisor, and served in the Chui Gong Palace.

Not long after, a handsome and handsome young warrior came to the point and said in a loud voice: "My minister Zhang Wenwei is here, please give me your orders!"

Zhang Wenwei is the eldest grandson of Zhang Yongde, Marquis of Yangyi, and is now the direct foreman of the Great Neijun Palace, with a bright future ahead.

Looking at Zhang Wenwei, Emperor Liu didn't have time to express his appreciation. He raised his hand and ordered: "Adjudicate this letter, go to Longyou in person, follow the order, and get the heads of those two animals?"

Seeing Emperor Liu's hideous and terrifying appearance, Zhang Wenwei was slightly startled, but he didn't dare to neglect in the slightest: "Yes!"

After saying that, he stepped forward, took the handbook from the servant Ma Zheng, and was about to execute it vigorously, but was interrupted by a sudden speech: "Wait a minute!"

It was Kou Zhun who spoke, and with a single sentence, everyone's attention was turned to him.Because of Wang Yucheng's words, Emperor Liu really ignored him, turned his eyes to him, and looked at him indifferently: "Kou Zhun, did I neglect you, what do you have to say?"

Facing Emperor Liu's staring eyes, Kou Zhun's expression was serious, and he clasped his fists and said solemnly: "I listen to your majesty's intention, do you want to directly send the squadron to take the life of the second official in Longxi?"

"Why not?" Emperor Liu said lightly.

Kou Zhun took a deep breath, and replied in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, what Wang Zhizhou said is still a one-sided statement, and he hastily dealt with it without verification. It is unavoidable to be hasty. What's more, knowing the state and participating in politics are all high-ranking local officials. Qian, even if the two are guilty, they should be judged, and the punishment is upright, so as to win the hearts of the people..."

After listening to Kou Zhun's opinion, Emperor Liu laughed twice, and then he sneered and said to Wang Yucheng: "Wang Yucheng, did you hear that? Kou Zhun said that you are suspected of false accusation, and that you are suspected of partial hearing. What can I say!"

Wang Yucheng looked at Kou Zhun, raised his hand and said calmly: "Your Majesty, please check every sentence I said, if there is even half a sentence of falsehood, I would like to share the same crime!"

After a pause, Wang Yucheng said again: "However, forgive me, Kou Yushi's admonition is very pertinent. The country has its own laws and the court has its own system. If the two thieves destroy the country's legal system, it is really worthless. Please also please Your Majesty." Think twice!"

After Wang Yucheng finished speaking, Emperor Liu was silent for a while, his cold eyes turned on Wang and Kou, and he tilted his head and said softly: "Kou Zhun, in the past few years in the pass, he has improved a lot in his career as a royal censor. Teach me what to do!"

There was a bit of sarcasm in Emperor Liu's words, but Kou Zhun's face was calm, and he said calmly: "I don't dare, I just follow His Majesty's teachings back then, do my duty as a minister, and seek loyalty for the country, that's all. !"

"A sharp mouth!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu took a careful look at Kou Zhun again, and said leisurely, "It seems that the position of censor of the Guannei Dao is really inferior!"

After finishing speaking, Emperor Liu said to Zhang Wenwei who was standing upright waiting for orders: "The edict is invalid, Longyou, you should go and bring those two thieves back to Beijing. I would like to have a look and tell you What kind of person is such a shocking speaker!"