Han Shizu

Chapter 2034 The Last Journey 6
The old emperor didn't say anything for a while. He walked slowly to the case, looked down at what Liu Wenji had written, glanced at it, and then chuckled: "Have you started practicing cursive writing?"

Liu Wenji also lowered his head and looked at his "work" and said, "I made my grandfather laugh!"

It can be heard that Liu Wenji is not in a high mood, and the old emperor is muttering: "Kill one person in ten steps, and leave no trace in a thousand miles! There is a hint of murderous intent in your words!"

Liu Wenji lowered his head and bit his lip.Seeing this, the old emperor put his hands behind his back and asked: "I heard that you are not feeling well, how do you feel now?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenji said: "Thank you for your concern, grandfather. My grandson is not seriously ill, it's just, it's just."

Seeing his unspeakable expression, the old emperor said softly: "That's right. Scenes like that during the day are indeed a big shock to young people like you who are inexperienced in the world. You need to work hard to overcome them psychologically! Of course, there is no Spit it out on the spot, it’s not bad!
However, you may not know that when your father went to the battlefield for the first time, he was only eight years old. Seeing the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, even his legs were weak."

"My grandson is of course far inferior to my father!" Liu Wenji expressed, pondered for a while, and then said: "Those criminal ministers, who deceived the emperor and harmed the people, neglected their duties and violated the law, and died unjustly, do not deserve sympathy! It's just that he is an uncle after all. ah!"

You can feel the slight struggle in Liu Wenji's heart at this time, but what makes the old emperor curious is that the relationship between Liu Wenji and Fu Zhaoshou is so close, is it worth being so sentimental about it?
Examining Liu Wenji, the old emperor also said with emotion: "Human beings are not grass and trees, how can we be ruthless? To be fair, I can spare Fu Zhaoshou's life without killing him. All I have to do is say something. I'm afraid those ministers below will just look forward to it." Let me do this!

Even when it comes to their words and writings, it is not considered to be selfish, it can be whitewashed into a bright light, and they even sing praises to me and boast about my tolerance and kindness!
Why?The reason is simple. If I can be lenient with Fu Zhaoshou in the 'smuggling case' today, I will have reason to be lenient with others in other matters. And when those ministers and officials face the illegal crimes of their relatives, wouldn't it be logical to tolerate them?
Things may not develop like this, but I have to guard against it!Of course, I do not deny that I have the intention of borrowing your uncle's head to frighten the world's dignitaries and the so-called wealthy families!

In the past few years, I have indeed been slack, confused and even dim. Now that I have woken up, I will use the blood of those guilty officials to clarify my will."

The old emperor's words were certainly not as thrilling as the heads rolling in the daytime, but to Liu Wenji, they were even more terrifying. The old emperor's words were too plain, and the will revealed in them even impacted his values.

Seeing that his grandson was stunned, the old emperor continued to speak, which could even be regarded as a kind of confession: "Long-term peace and stability require paying a price, and the first one to do it is the emperor. There are some unforgettable and great sorrows and pains that must be experienced. , the Liu family's empire cannot be protected by outsiders alone.

In the past, I was the one who managed to maintain it, but now your father has begun to shoulder this responsibility.I am old and dying, and your father is not young either. The future will still fall on young people like you!

What my grandfather did today was indeed cruel, but if he can't withstand even this setback and impact and gives in to his emotions, it will be hard to achieve success in the future!
I have repeatedly asked you to remember that you are descendants of the Tian family, and you and Wen Huan are the crown princes, so you will naturally need to endure more hardships than others."

Liu Wenji was stunned by these words. He looked up and saw that the old emperor's peaceful face was still there, but there seemed to be something more in his eyes.After thinking carefully and reminiscing, the anger in Liu Wenji's heart gradually dissipated without realizing it.

"My grandson is stupid and doesn't understand his grandfather's heart and pain, but he will definitely keep his teachings in mind and never forget them!" Taking a deep breath, Liu Wenji solemnly said to the old emperor.

Looking at this grandson who was not yet sixteen years old, the old emperor secretly sighed in his heart and wondered whether what he said today would be of any use to the future.
However, there was a happy smile on his face and he said: "I will take your words as your promise to my grandfather!"

The old emperor's conversation tonight was a bit mysterious. Liu Wenji was shocked when he heard it, but also a little confused. He could only nod his head according to his long-standing habit.

The old emperor felt relieved and was about to leave, but Liu Wenji took the initiative to ask a rare question: "My grandfather's severe punishment today can certainly shock everyone, but isn't the extreme method likely to cause a backlash?"

The old emperor turned his back to Liu Wenji and stopped when he heard this: "What is the rebound you are talking about?"

Liu Wenji mustered up his courage and said in a deep voice: "More than seventy officers were killed in a row, and hundreds of officers and soldiers were arrested. They were quick and decisive. However, the navy is also an army, and the army is a violent institution as my grandfather often said. Such drastic measures will lead to Isn’t it dangerous to mutiny and threaten the Holy Bow?”

Hearing such a question, the old emperor turned around again and looked at Liu Wenji carefully. He didn't know whether he thought this question was meaningful, or whether Liu Wenji's question was more valuable.

After pondering for a while, the old emperor raised his hand and said calmly and resolutely: "It is necessary to rectify the navy and arrest the criminal officers and soldiers. It is urgent to obey the authority. It is precisely because the army takes decisive measures to avoid provoking him. Change!
As for the concerns you raised, I can only say that they dare not!Even though your grandfather is old now, he still has this little bit of confidence!At the same time, we must also believe in the knowledge of the so-called noble families and military officers. They know well whether one person's death is more serious than the whole family's death! "

"Have a good rest!" While Liu Wenji was still digesting it, the old emperor left a few words and left slowly.

Stepping out of the room, the old emperor looked up and sighed. Above his head was a patch of moon and stars, and the plump Jade Rabbit was spreading a soft light. Also, the Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed.As soon as he stretched out his hand, Hu De, who was always waiting on him, immediately offered the bamboo stick. The old emperor took it and nodded it in the corridor, making a crisp sound.At the corner of the corridor not far away, a figure was hidden in the light. His figure looked very tall and straight. It was none other than Wannian Hou Liu Wenhuan.However, Liu Wenhuan's expression was a little complicated at this time. He stared at the old emperor who walked out of the room, with a hint of jealousy, grievance and unwillingness in his eyes.

The old emperor seemed to feel something. He tilted his head and immediately called out: "Is it Wen Huan?"

When his name was called, Liu Wenhuan shivered subconsciously and did not dare to neglect. He immediately stood in the light, bowed and said: "Yes! My grandson is here!"

Although Liu Wenhuan tried his best to behave normally in front of the old emperor, the old emperor felt his gushing emotions.After looking at the emperor's grandson with the same gentle eyes, the old emperor waved to him and said: "Just right! Please come with me for a walk!"

Although it was just a short instruction, Liu Wenhuan felt an inexplicable heat in his heart and responded immediately.

The autumn wind was bleak, blowing the clear water in the pond. The old emperor, with his hunched body, stared at the water surface with the swaying lights in trance under the shadow of the trees.A few tears floated between the eyes, and the lips moved, but they were muttering: Dafu, you shouldn't blame me!
From the time Fu Zhaoshou was arrested until he was beheaded, the old emperor never saw him during the whole process, just because he was afraid that he would show favoritism and indulgence.Of course, the tears rolling in his eyes at this time were definitely not for Fu Zhaoshou, but because the old emperor thought of Empress Fu.

Although Fuhou had been broken for several years, time had not healed the old emperor's heartache. Instead, as time passed, it became more and more profound. He did not mention it on weekdays, but simply buried it deeply.

However, I just killed Fu Hou's younger brother today. Although I don't feel much guilt, my feelings of longing are brought out, and I even fall into a kind of contradiction of "killing one person and missing another person".

After a long time, as a glass of wine spilled onto the grass at his feet, the old emperor raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, and finally got rid of the sad mood.

Even so, the old emperor's mood was still not high. The disadvantages in Hubei only made the old emperor a little sullen, and that was enough to deal with it. However, there were some things that made the old emperor have to cheer up and be vigilant.

Perhaps Fan Zhigu didn't know that because of those unnecessary performances during the day, the old emperor became suspicious of him and even questioned him.What the old emperor doubted was of course that this person could adjust the upper-level power structure of Jinghu North Road according to his will and suppress those intricately connected wealthy families. Judging from Fan Zhigu's attitude today, the old emperor was confident In fact, it was seriously insufficient, because Fan Zhigu gave him the feeling of being full of compromising tendencies.

It stands to reason that with Fan Zhigu's ability, character and past experience, this is not the case. As long as he still has the ambition to make progress, and with the old emperor's clear instructions, he should be bold and unburdened. In the past, we must be determined to reform.

However, things are constantly developing and changing, and the situation in the Han Dynasty is also constantly changing. Naturally, people have to adapt to the environment through constant changes.

When you reach a position like Fan Zhigu, of course you have to adjust your stance and change your thinking based on where your butt is.If it had been ten years ago, or even five years ago, Fan Zhigu would not have hesitated in the face of the old emperor's instructions, and would have acted resolutely and completely in accordance with the holy will. But now, he has to take some safe measures. .

In fact, not to mention Fan Zhigu, even the ministers and ministers who hold high positions in the temple have become more and more seeking stability in recent years.And all kinds of behaviors, translated into two words: wait and see, wait!
As for what to watch and what to wait for, it goes without saying!

Even the old emperor didn't realize that it was becoming more and more difficult for him to accomplish anything in recent years.The middle and lower classes were too far away from the old emperor, but the upper class dignitaries, especially the feudal officials and ministers, all showed a kind of laziness and slowness.

This does not mean that these powerful elites of the Han Dynasty have become corrupt, but they are beginning to hesitate.This hesitation was undoubtedly brought about by the old emperor. It was not only the change in the "nervousness" of these old emperors, but also the fact that he was really old, and it was difficult to hide the spirit of a person from others.

The more senior people are in power, the more they need to consider the long term. When they are dealing with politics, they have to consider the continuity of things. The old emperor may not be able to persist for long, so those policies he formulates and implements, especially forcibly promotes, How long can it last?
It is very common in China for people to die and political power to cease. It is an unbreakable principle that once the emperor and his ministers are the same, if we use too much force now, we are likely to face political risks in the future. This is uncertain.

Under the heavy psychological concerns, how could the people in power in the Han Dynasty implement the old emperor's decisions to the letter as they did in the past?More of a coping attitude.

Taikang Palace was built quickly, but it was profitable for everyone, and the Shaofu was the main responsible department.Taking tax reform as an example, the reason why the progress is so slow is that in addition to the complexity and cumbersomeness of the reform itself, the hesitation and hesitation transmitted from the upper-level elites to the lower level are also important factors.Fan Zhigu's changes when he took office in Jinghu North Road were only because he reached a new level.
At the current stage of tax reform, it has already involved some deep-water areas, which are becoming increasingly difficult. The new system has not yet been completed, and new disadvantages have arisen. The reform path has also reached a more critical stage.

The old emperor also knew in his heart that it would probably not be completed in his lifetime, and he had already pinned his hopes on Prince Liu Yang.As for whether Prince Liu Yang could uphold his will, he was also unsure.

Perhaps it is difficult for people to imagine that His Majesty the Emperor, who is so high above us, could actually be in such a state of powerlessness and struggle.In the naval smuggling case, only through Bai Ri's decisive and ruthless methods can it be proved that the emperor's authority is still strong.

However, this strength has also reached the point of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside.
(End of this chapter)