Han Shizu

In the summer of the sixth year of Pingkang Dynasty, in Luoyang Xiyuan, in the royal garden with lush vegetation, more than two thousand forbidden horses swept past, causing birds to fly and animals to fly away in joy.

All the imperial cavalrymen were good at riding and shooting, and they were also experts in hunting. Under the leadership of each commander, they formed an orderly formation and drove the surrounding prey into the paddock with familiarity and smooth coordination.

In the position where the stars are holding the moon, it is the emperor Liu Wenpeng. Even regardless of his identity, his coquettish and bright golden armor is eye-catching.

This pair of golden armors has quite an origin. Liu Gui, the Shaofu, summoned famous official and private clothing designers to design and draw pictures. He compared and eliminated them one by one from hundreds of plans, and selected them from the Shaofu, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ordnance Supervisor. The most skilled craftsmen, with the most dexterous hands and the most cautious patience, spent more than half a year to build it.

There is no doubt that this is the most luxurious armor since the founding of the Han Empire. The brilliant blades are all made of pure gold, and the other accessories are nothing. In order to facilitate the emperor's inspection and hunting, a set of willow leaf light armor was specially made, which was practical.

At the same time, the patterns, lines, shapes and other styles on the outside and inside of the armor, which encompass the world and the four corners of the world and include many special connotations of the country, the country, and the country, are also beautiful, or artistic, truly expensive and priceless artistry.

After trying it on, Liu Wenpeng was very satisfied with the finished product and thought it only enhanced his identity.

Such a huge and elaborate golden armor was initially made of ten pairs, but the actual consumption of labor and materials was ten times that. In the end, under Liu Wenpeng's instruction, eight pairs were destroyed, leaving two pairs as the emperor's. Royal armor, one set for regular use and one set for backup.

With this, Shaofu Liu Gui won the favor of Liu Wenpeng and rewarded Liu Gui with all the remaining "waste" such as gold, gems, gold wires, beads, and necklaces in the process of making the imperial armor. This was extremely generous. All ministers who deserve merit will be generously rewarded

However, no matter how rich the gold and silver wealth is, it is nothing to Liu Gui. It would have been fine thirty years ago, but now Liu Gui is already over sixty years old and an eunuch. He really regards money as dirt.

What's more, as a slave from his hometown who has been in charge of the Shaofu for more than thirty years, it can be said that Liu Gui has enjoyed power and glory as long as he has been in office.

It can even be said that he enjoyed many of the emperor's material comforts, and he also tried things that the emperor did not have or was unwilling to enjoy. Nowadays, it is difficult to arouse Liu Gui's interest in ordinary yellow and white things.

What can make the old eunuch attracted is, in addition to the power and status represented by the Shaofu itself, it must also be the reputation that was impossible to obtain in the era of Shizu and Taizong.

Therefore, facing the emperor's generous reward, Liu Gui appeared very reserved, innocent and indifferent. Liu Wenpeng saw that his expression was "complex" and naturally asked why.

When the emperor asked the question, Liu Gu just expressed regretfully to Liu Wenpeng that although he had served Shizu and Taizong in the palace for fifty years, was entrusted with the post of Shaofu, and had managed internal funds for more than thirty years, he was still no better than outsiders. Those heroes and nobles of the dynasty are now dying. They can only look forward to being a "perfect man" in the next life and continue to serve the Han royal family loyally.

No matter how much criticism there is about Liu Wenpeng, it is undeniable that he is actually a smart person, but his smartness is rarely used on political issues and in the direction that people expect.

But when he used his brain, Liu Wenpeng was still shrewd. For example, when Liu Gui made his "appreciation" to him, after thinking about it for a moment, he realized that this old eunuch actually wanted a title.

Liu Wenpeng asked him directly, but the old guy Liu Gui still kept his attitude, neither admitting nor denying, and pretending to be dazed and telling Liu Wenpeng some past events.

And Liu Wenpeng was not the one who heard others nagging him, so he interrupted him cheerfully and said: "With your loyalty and merit, it is difficult to make a prince, but an earl is more than enough. I am not afraid of the criticism and opposition of the courtiers, but, the big man The nobility system was established by the ancestors, with appropriate rewards and orderly inheritance.

You are a eunuch with no roots and no descendants. It is of no use to you to get a title. However, since you have opened your mouth, it is not easy to miss you, old slave, so I will give you a grace.

After a hundred years, I will definitely give you a posthumous title."

God knows what the old eunuch Liu Gui thought after hearing the emperor's reply, but at least on the surface, he was frightened and grateful. From this incident, we can actually see that although Emperor Liu Wenpeng was playful and absurd, his absurdity also had a bottom line.

Returning to the issue of "imperial armor", there was constant criticism in the court. After all, behind the two sets of treasure armor was a waste of a lot of human resources, especially the consumption of hard currency such as hundreds of kilograms of gold. In terms of value, the cost of building such two pairs of armors for Liu Wenpeng is enough to completely renovate several damaged roads leading to the suburbs of Beijing.

The imperial ministers and bureaucrats were very satisfied with the emperor's "rule from the top". As long as they didn't trouble the court or the powerful, you could make as much trouble as you wanted in the palace.

However, as the emperor gradually let himself go, some knowledgeable people and loyal ministers became increasingly disgusted with it, especially the increasing extravagance and waste within the palace. Some Yongxi veterans were even more saddened. Taizong's legacy was thus destroyed. , betrayal or even trampling on someone, how can the emperor tolerate it?

Therefore, taking advantage of the "imperial armor" incident, Lu Zongdao, the deputy capital censor, stood up. He had long been disgusted with the emperor's ridiculous playfulness and slackness in government affairs. He had tried to remonstrate with him before, but there was no response. In the autumn of the fifth year of Pingkang, at Li Hang's suggestion, Lu Zongdao was asked to go to the southeast to inspect the official affairs.

When he returned to Beijing half a year later, he encountered the emperor wearing his arrogant armor, wandering around hunting. After understanding the cause and effect, Lu Zongdao couldn't bear it anymore and "killed" him directly to Chui Gong Hall and recited it loudly outside the hall. "The Imperial Han Ancestor System".

Liu Wenpeng, who rarely rested in the middle of the night, was so disturbed by Lu Zongdao that Long Yan was furious and furious. Of course, this "anger" also contained a layer of irritation and anger.

Lu Zongdao's upright and even reckless approach would not have any more beneficial effect besides angering the emperor. On the spot, Liu Wenpeng ordered the guards to take him down and gave him twenty imperial staffs. If the guards hadn't been infected by Lu Zongdao's integrity and showed some mercy, they would have been beaten to death.

It has to be said that the beating of Lu Zongdao was actually the first time that Liu Wenpeng had physically tortured an important court official since he succeeded to the throne. This seemed to be another situation that went against people's "common sense".

Of course Liu Wenpeng had reasons to be angry. Not a cent of the money he spent to build Baojia came from the state treasury. It was all funded by internal funds and his private property. At most, he recruited some famous craftsmen and craftsmen from various government offices and the private sector. It doesn't cost the common people, and it doesn't harm the country's wealth. Why should the ministers interfere?

He also brought out the "Emperor and Han Ancestor System". Doesn't he, the emperor, have no face? At the same time, this is also the reason why Liu Wenpeng must fight back and be severely punished despite public outcry.

After all, if there is one, there is another. If the arrogance of ministers like Lu Zongdao is not suppressed this time, then, wouldn’t those ministers be able to imitate him and see if he has any dissatisfaction? Sacrifice the "ancestral system" to restrain him?

Obviously, Lu Zongdao chose the wrong time and used the wrong method. The ancestral law is not omnipotent, and it cannot be abused. At least, when it does not involve the fundamental system and does not infringe on the vested interests of the ruling elite, it is useless to rely on it alone, especially for a "bloody" emperor like Liu Wenpeng. explain. How could Lu Zongdao, a civil servant, endure such suffering? When he was carried home, he almost lost half his life. His family members urgently sought medical advice before they rescued him.

And this incident obviously has further consequences. Before the public opinion could ferment, Emperor Liu Wenpeng's back-up came. He took away his position, deposed him as a commoner, and sent him to Hexi to raise horses. If he was not given 10,000 Hexi horses, Just don't ever think about returning the favor.

This obviously imitates the story of Su Fengji, the prime minister who was dismissed by Shizu during the Shizu Dynasty. But how many people face a situation like Su Fengji's and have the perseverance, perseverance, and the luck to come back? Looking at it from a normal perspective, it can almost declare the end of Lu Zongdao's political career.

The impact of the "Shocking of the Palace Incident" was obviously not just as simple as Lu Zongdao being exiled and demoted, but also that things harm others. At least a loyal and upright man like Lu Zongdao, who valued integrity, was greatly frustrated and "unaccepted of loyal advice" to the emperor. , persecution of virtuous people" is disappointing. Since this incident, there have been fewer and fewer people in the court who dare to offend Yan Zhijian.

Liu Wenpeng didn't care at all about the emotions and reactions of his ministers. His anger had not dissipated, but he became unwilling to let go. He delegated power to the Political Affairs Hall, and he did not allow those well-fed ministers to interfere in his private affairs.

After delegating power, he did not interfere with the operation of the treasury. This inexplicable Lu Zongdao actually caused trouble and managed internal funds for just two imperial armors. This is not bullying the emperor, but also exceeding the rules. How can we tolerate this? We must fight back lesson.

So, from then on, Liu Wenpeng temporarily stopped his happy life and began to interfere with the affairs of the treasury. He would come to Li Hang every now and then to ask about important financial matters, and even sent people to check the accounts overtly and covertly. If the emperor wanted to find fault, how could that be done? No fault can be found, but it is the Financial Secretary, an agency that is in charge of the entire country's financial affairs, which is naturally full of right and wrong and mistakes.

It was inevitable that Li Hang, the strategist, would be disgraced. If he wasn't afraid of being involved too much, Liu Wenpeng would have had the urge to replace Li Hang.

However, after Liu Wenpeng's troubles, the effect was immediately obvious. At least many powerful people realized one thing. It was easy for the emperor to torment them, but it was even more difficult for them to persuade the emperor, and there was also the possibility of being dismissed from office. and even the risk of imprisonment.

It doesn't seem difficult to make the emperor "calm down", just don't disturb his private life. Although the various activities of the emperor are not so wise and do not conform to the character of a wise king, we cannot have the same requirements for every emperor as Shizu and Taizong did.

As for Emperor Liu Wenpeng's various unpopular deeds, if you think about it carefully, it seems that it is not a big deal, as long as it does not harm the country and the people. The family wealth left by Shizu and Taizong is strong enough to support it.

After Lu Zongdao's incident, Liu Wenpeng did not restrain himself, but became more indulgent. They often wear golden armor, go in and out of the palace, and hunt on horseback. In the past, it was a big hunt all year round, but now it is a big hunt in January, and there are often thousands of forbidden horses accompanying them.

At this time, the two thousand forbidden knights in the hunting team were all loyal soldiers of the empire, and they were all brave men carefully selected from the armies inside and outside the empire under Liu Wenpeng's order in the past two years. The selection criteria were based on age, height, and age. There are restrictions on origin and even appearance.

After being transferred to the capital, Liu Wenpeng was regarded as both his companion and playmate. To this end, the Ministry of War and the Ordnance Supervisor built two thousand willow-leaf silver armors.

The iron hooves are criss-crossing, and the silver armor is galloping. How gorgeous and majestic is it? Among them, Liu Wenpeng was high-spirited and arrogant. After seeing the paddock begin, he rode up to more than 20 young knights whose attire and momentum were different from ordinary "Silver Armor Army", and said loudly: "Listen, everyone. Today’s hunting, the rules have changed, let’s do something new!

In the paddock, I ordered someone to release a marked prey, which is today's prize. Whoever catches it will be today's winner. Not only will I reward him generously, but I will also let him drink with me!

Do you understand everything? "

"Yes!" A group of people shouted in unison.

The dozens of people participating in the hunting competition all have extraordinary backgrounds. They are all from the lowest family backgrounds after the imperial nobles. They are all from the marquis family. To be sent to the emperor to serve as companions, they are all valued by the family and have high skills. To cultivate value.

There are also family successors, such as Murong Yonglin, the direct grandson of Wuchang Hou Murong Chengde, and Guo Guang, the direct grandson of Bowang Hou Guo Jin.

Following the order from Emperor Liu Wenpeng, the referee, a group of distinguished disciples immediately rushed out and ran towards the wild beasts that had been driven into the enclosure. Some of them were impatient and started to raise their bows from a distance away.

In the back, looking at the hunting scene, Liu Wenpeng looked excited, but at the same time, a dull emotion could not help but appear deep in his eyes.

Over the years, I have been hunting in Xiyuan, as far as Ruzhou in the south and Huaizhou in the north. Liu Wenpeng has long become a little numb in such repeated days. After all, he is a People who need a sense of surprise to stimulate.

At the same time, high-frequency and high-intensity hunting has increasingly damaged the ecology of Luoyang Xiyuan, especially the loss of animals. A large part of the prey on this hunt was captured by Liu Wenpeng from other places.

The idea of ​​going to a farther place, a place more suitable for hunting, once again emerged in Liu Wenpeng's mind. Emperor Shizu and Emperor Taizong both traveled and inspected the world. As their successors, it is appropriate for them to imitate the late emperors, inspect the administration of officials, and observe the sentiments of the people.

That night, in the Xiyuan, Liu Wenpeng held another bonfire dinner. With the imperial wine in charge, he and his noble attendants enjoyed the day's hunt to the fullest.

Liu Wenpeng also fulfilled his promise and awarded Murong Yonglin, who "won the first prize", the fourth rank of Zhongwu General and let him sit at the banquet. At least on this summer night in Luoyang Xiyuan, twenty-three-year-old Murong Yonglin was in an enviable position in the imperial camp.

There are two major Murong families in the Han Empire. One is naturally the family of Murong Yanzhao, Duke of Wei, and the other is the family of Murong Yanchao, Duke of Luan, the emperor's uncle. Murong Yonglin is his great-grandson, the grandson of Murong Chengtai, Marquis of Wuchang.

Although Murong Chengtai was not the eldest son of Murong Yanchao, due to his military exploits during the Shizu period and his strong status and background (he had a close relationship with King Yong Liu Chengxun, married Xiao Fu at the same time, and was also the brother-in-law of Emperor Shizu), he was granted the title of First Emperor. Waiting for the Marquis.