Marquis Xue led the imperial army to surround Gongsun's mansion, and then led his troops to break into the mansion, arresting all the guards and servants who tried to resist, and then went to the main hall to bring Gongsun Ming and his wife out. Marquis Xue said to Gongsun
Ming was quite polite and only said that he wanted Gongsun Ming to go to the General's Mansion.
Under the supervision of Lord Xue, Gongsun Ming arrived at General Xiao Tianyou's mansion. At this time, among the generals, Xiao Tianyou and Xu Boxiong were already waiting there. When Gongsun Ming came in, Xiao Tianyou just nodded at him and asked
Said: "Brother Gongsun Nian, do you know why I invite you to come to my house?"
Gongsun Ming bowed and saluted, and replied: "General Xiao, Prime Minister Xu, Gongsun Ming has not been out of the government for a long time, and he does not know how the world has changed. He only knows how to keep to himself. Mr. Xiao called me here. Could it be that he misses me and wants to have tea with me to talk about the past."
!”
After Xiao Tianyou heard what Gongsun Ming said, he looked at Xu Boxiong and burst into laughter. While laughing, he said: "Brother Gongsunnian said, Prime Minister Xu and I miss you very much. Since you are here too, let's go to me first."
Let’s stay in your mansion for a few days!” After saying that, he ordered his subordinates to take Gongsun Ming and his wife to the backyard and treat them well.
While the Gongsun Mansion was being searched, an imperial edict also arrived at Pingguan. King Chen sent an edict to the eldest prince, asking him to quickly send Marshal Chen Qi to escort General Gongsun Xiao back to Luocheng.
Chen Cheng was shocked when he received the imperial edict, and hurriedly called the old marshal Chen Qi to his palace. Chen Qi read the imperial edict and couldn't help being shocked. He remembered what his granddaughter Chen Mengzhu said, thinking that a fight was about to begin! Chen Qi
Qi looked at the eldest prince and said slowly: "Your Highness, this matter has been foreshadowed for a long time. Mengzhu told me two days ago that something might happen to the Gongsun family. Unexpectedly, it happened so quickly. Alas, Chen
The king will finally take action!"
When Chen Cheng heard what Chen Qi said, he was stunned and asked: "Old Marshal, do you know anything? Tell me quickly! What did Miss Mengzhu say?!"
Chen Qi told what Chen Mengzhu had warned him a few days ago. Chen Cheng was shocked when he heard that, and murmured: "Gongsun Xiao wants to transfer the Gongsun family's property to me, and I agreed. I thought it would be okay."
As military pay, we expanded our troops and transferred the grain business to us, also thinking that if trouble occurs again in the future, we will have grain and grass to support it. How could Chen Zhong see through this and attack the Gongsun family?"
Chen Qi sighed and said: "At this time, everything should be stable. Watch the battle between Qi and Shu, take the opportunity to stabilize the border defense, send troops to the northwest, and expand the territory. The eldest prince and the third prince each occupy one side. It is not a bad thing. They can echo each other.
, to avoid brothers fighting, and to join forces to attack the enemy. However, just because of a small descendant of Gongsun, it actually caused a big earthquake. "
Chen Cheng's expression changed several times, then he looked at Chen Qi and asked: "Then what should we do according to the marshal's wishes?!"
Chen Qi frowned and said: "At this time, we must not act rashly. King Chen and the third prince should have reached an agreement and are thinking about what actions they want us to make so that we can be charged with rebellion. We still
We should put the overall situation first, the Gongsun family may have to be abandoned!"
Chen Cheng also frowned and said: "Old Marshal, if we abandon the Gongsun family in this way, wouldn't it make the people of the country laugh at us? Who will serve me then? Can't we state our interests to Chen Zhong and ask him to let the Gongsun family go?
,avoid a turmoil?”
After hearing this, Chen Qi shook his head and said: "This matter has come to this, and King Chen's imperial edict has been sent to the prince, so King Chen must have made sufficient preparations. How can we just ask for mercy? Moreover,
, The safety of Chen State is at great risk, Prince, you don’t have to worry about other people’s words anymore. If the Prince conflicts with King Chen, it will make the people of the country more criticized, and the internal chaos in Chen will be in vain, which will benefit other countries!"
Chen Cheng sighed, then clenched his fists and beat the armrests of the handsome chair. He raised his head and looked outside, muttering to himself: "Father, if your spirit in heaven is watching, then you should ask us brothers to work together."
, I don’t want to be the sinner of Chen Guoli’s chaos, but do I have to let my second brother slaughter me at will?!”
When Chen Qi saw that the eldest prince was so sad, he also sighed and said: "Gongsun Xiao has been following me for many years. He has advised me and made a lot of contributions. However, compared to you, the prince, we can only abandon him."
.Besides, I am also going to Luo City this time. I am probably asked to participate in the joint trial. The Gongsun family broke into the palace at night and plotted to cause chaos. Maybe there will be a turn for the better. When I go back, I can ask questions carefully and investigate the matter.
It’s still unclear whether we can solve the Gongsun family’s sins!”
Chen Cheng had no choice but to nod his head and said to Chen Qi: "Old Marshal, just go and do it. You don't have to tell me anymore. I haven't seen anyone else in the past few days!"
After receiving the order from the eldest prince, Chen Qi got up and left, returned to his army, and sent an order to call Gongsun Xiao.
Gongsun Xiao arrived at the marshal's tent and saw Chen Qi looking sad, so he stepped forward and asked, "Marshal, what's the reason for calling me here?"
Chen Qi looked up at Gongsun Xiao, then pointed to the chair on the side and motioned for him to sit down. Chen Qi kept looking at Gongsun Xiao, and after he sat down, he slowly said: "General Gongsun, you and I have worked together for many years.
I can’t bear to hide it from you! I received an imperial edict from King Chen today, saying that Gongsun Yinan led his slaves to break into the palace late at night with weapons to assassinate the king. He was captured by the imperial army and has been imprisoned. This matter is important, and King Chen asked me to lead him.
You go back to Luo City together and find out the merits of this matter."
After hearing this, Gongsun Xiao stood up and looked at Chen Qi who had not spoken for a long time. After a long while, he sat down dejectedly and said: "Sure enough, the marshal said that my Gongsun family is in trouble! Do this.
In fact, the crime of plotting rebellion can lead to the death of all nine clans of my Gongsun family!"
Chen Qi looked at Gongsun Xiao and said in a deep voice: "General Gongsun, there is no need to be so pessimistic. There must be something fishy about this matter. I think King Chen will not kill in vain. As long as we go back and find out the truth, we will be able to return the favor to the Gongsun family."
Fair!"
Gongsun Xiao shook his head and sighed and said: "Marshal, you said it a few days ago. It seems that you have expected this day. It's just that I was too confused and didn't take the marshal's words to heart. I can't blame others.
, I only blame me for not listening to the Marshal’s good advice and failing to dissuade my brother in time. Now that the matter has come to this, I have nothing to say. I will not make things difficult for the eldest prince and the Marshal. I will go back to Luo City with the Marshal to stand trial."
After saying that, Gongsun Xiao looked at Chen Qi and said, "Marshal, the last general also has something he doesn't know whether to say or not?"
Chen Qi nodded and said: "General Gongsun just said it doesn't matter!"
Gongsun Xiao stood up and came to Chen Qi, leaned over and whispered: "Marshal, since King Chen is determined to eradicate dissidents, the eldest prince and you will be eliminated sooner or later. Our Gongsun family is just leaving with the marshal and the eldest prince."
It’s just that we’re closer, this should be just the beginning. There’s no guarantee that I won’t do anything to you when I get there. Have you ever thought about this, Marshal?”
Chen Qi looked up at Gongsun Xiao, and his heart was spinning. He knew that Gongsun Xiao said this for two reasons: one was to sincerely remind himself; the other was to arouse his own defensiveness and fight against the eldest prince's order, in order to
Seek self-protection. Although Chen Qi understands this, he has already made a decision in his heart. He would rather let King Chen betray himself than the country of Chen. If the eldest prince and King Chen collide, the country of Chen will definitely fall into war and its national power will be damaged.
, but was attacked by other countries, then he would be the sinner of Chen State!
Chen Qi thought of this and said slowly: "We ministers, receiving favor from the emperor and receiving salary from the state of Chen, should do our best for the country. If the emperor asks the minister to die, the minister will not dare not to die. Besides, there is no room for recovery in this matter.
, let’s go back to Luo City first and see what the situation is like.”
Chen Qi took Gongsun Xiao away from the Pingguan camp and headed for Luocheng without saying goodbye to the eldest prince. Gongsun Xiao wanted to meet the eldest prince, but Chen Qi advised him that it was not appropriate to involve him at this time.
Prince, it's better not to see him! Gongsun Xiao thought about it, and followed Chen Qi silently. Along the way, Chen Qi also said soothing words to Gongsun Xiao. It wasn't until he approached Luo City that the soldiers loaded Gongsun Xiao into the prison car.
Inside.
As soon as Chen Qi entered Luo City, he first went to the palace to meet with Chen Qi. King Chen met Chen Qi in the main hall, praised Chen Qi for his achievements on the Northeast Front, then told Chen Qi about his hard work, and finally talked about the Gongsun family.
Chen Qi only listened quietly and rarely answered. After King Chen finished explaining the matter, Chen Qi saluted and asked: "Your Majesty, I don't know how the Holy Will will deal with the rebellion in the Gongsun family?"
King Chen looked at Chen Qi and said: "Old Marshal, I want you, General Xiao, and Prime Minister Xu to jointly review this case. If the Gongsun family really intends to cause chaos, we must find out the whole story and investigate and deal with it."
Let’s punish all our comrades together!”
Chen Qi nodded and then asked: "Then, Your Majesty, if the Gongsun family has no intention of causing rebellion, how should we deal with it?"
When King Chen saw Chen Qi asking such a question, he laughed and said, "Then let's restore the Gongsun family's name to innocence!"
Chen Qi bowed and saluted, saying: "Your Majesty is a saint, your Majesty is a saint!"
King Chen was not surprised at all about Chen Qi's reaction, and the reason why King Chen asked Chen Qi to participate in the trial was to demonstrate fairness and allow all three parties to participate, so that all parties could stop talking.
The three-court trial was held at the General's Mansion. Mr. Xue gave evidence of the silver car and silver smuggled by Gongsun's family; Xu Shifan also gave evidence of the knives and sticks seized by Gongsun Yinan and his servants that night; Xiao Tianyou also gave evidence
The various accounts of gold, silver and jewelry found in Gongsun's family were displayed. Finally, Gongsun Yihu also came out to testify that during several wars with the Chen Kingdom, the Gongsun family embezzled a large amount of military pay and communicated with the enemy by preparing food and fodder for the Chen army.
, reselling grain and grass, etc.; Butler Mao also testified that he smuggled silver and transferred the family gold and silver to Xiangcheng.
Chen Qi took a look and found that all the facts were there. Gongsun Yinan also admitted that he accidentally broke into the palace late at night. There was no excuse for this crime alone. In addition, reselling military rations and liaising with the enemy during the war were all factors.
It was a serious crime that implicated nine clans. Xue Houye, Xu Shifan, and Xiao Tianyou were witnesses. Chen Qi could only reduce his crime by citing the Gongsun family's contribution to the Chen State, but Xu Boxiong and Xiao Tianyou were noncommittal.
After the trial of the case was completed, all parties signed a pledge and handed the case file to King Chen. King Chen wrote with a pen and wrote: Gongsun Ming, Gongsun Xiao, Gongsun Yinan will be executed! The entire Gongsun family was executed, and all the property was returned to the national treasury. In memory of his great achievements.
Thanks to the Chen State, the nine tribes were no longer implicated, but all nine tribes were sent to the frontier.