"The God of Dangdang is the leader of the people. The God of speed and majesty has many orders." [Poetry·Daya·Dang]
"Wei Wei." Yang Qi admitted frankly: "Yang Zhong did make some untrue mistakes. According to the law, he should be punished."
So the emperor curiously asked: "Since Mr. Yang said so, why did he only talk about his retirement due to illness and never mentioned his misconduct in inspection and conduct? Is it possible that there is also a 'hiding between relatives' here?
?Mr. Yang, I remember that you were always a person who had a clear distinction between love and hate, and upheld justice."
These words left Yang Qi speechless with embarrassment. It is true that he has a strong character and is not afraid of the powerful because he is a powerful person and upholds justice because he can stand upright and sit upright. But now
With the addition of such a weakness and stain as Yang Zhong, especially if it involves the future rise and fall of the Yang family, he can neither ignore it nor ignore it, let alone insist on impartial enforcement of the law as before.
I thought that by letting Yang Zhong retreat on their own, as a concession, I asked the emperor to show mercy and let it go. Unexpectedly, the emperor insisted and refused to let go. It seemed that the crime must be punished!
Of course, the emperor was particularly angry and insisted on punishing Yang Zhong for inciting and instigating the crime, but the premise was that it was only against Yang Zhong and not the entire Hongnong Yang family behind him.
This was Yang Qi's current bottom line. He thought for a long time and then reluctantly said: "Your Majesty is joking, after all, Yang Zhong has been an official for three dynasties. When he came from Luoyang, he lacked carriages and horses. He walked with them all the way, and his feet suffered from this.
Ji. Now that I am being punished for my misconduct, I feel that... I have lost sight of His Majesty's kindness and love for his ministers."
"What Mr. Yang said is wrong. Doesn't he only have the 'fault' of improper inspection and no other 'crimes'?" The emperor slowly caught a key word from Yang Qi's words and threw it back accurately.
.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Qi suddenly knelt down and bowed his head without saying a word for a long time.
The emperor still took two steps forward and noticed something strange behind him. Then he looked back and saw Yang Qi kneeling on the ground. His face was not surprised at all: "What's wrong, Mr. Yang? Do you know him?"
What did you commit?"
"Yang Zhong is regretful and saddened by this incident. He is deeply afraid that he caused trouble by making too many remarks and made a mistake. When I visited him... I heard a little bit about it." Yang Qi lowered his head and said in a low voice.
"Ha." The emperor sneered and turned around: "Only heard a little bit? The Yang family of Hongnong regards you as their leader. Is it possible that the Yang family went their own way and did not plan things with you?"
"I don't dare. The Yang family of Hongnong has been providing cattle and horses for the Han Dynasty since the time of Emperor Gao. How dare you do such a rebellious thing?" Yang Qi immediately denied it, with a firm tone, just like the way he used to speak out for justice: "It's just Yang Zhong's behavior.
He is frivolous and often speaks carelessly, thus causing trouble. If I had known about it earlier, how could I have done it..."
"That's enough." The emperor interrupted Yang Qi's words with a dark face, and said coldly: "Since you have said it, the Yang family has been a minister of my Liu family since the Emperor Gao, and has been a prominent family for hundreds of years.
In this new age, I should set an example for all the people in the world. If I have no choice but to do so, I don’t want to ruin your family’s popularity. That would not look good on the court, you or me. Wasn’t it the same for the princes back then? Remembering the merits of the past,
I still gave him face, so I should be even more grateful."
Speaking of Wang Yun's fate, Yang Qi's stiff expression did not ease much. After Wang Yun lost power, because he was unwilling to accept the reality, he actually got together with Yuan Shao. Even so, he was just sentenced to death by the emperor.
, although this is a semi-public matter, it still reflects the negative impact caused by the emperor's scruples of directly killing a minister with a good reputation and a positive image.
With such an idea in mind, Yang Qi said to the emperor: "Your Majesty loves your old ministers very much, and everyone in the court knows that when the prince was frustrated and made mistakes, your Majesty only punished one of them. The descendants of the Wang family in Taiyuan, such as Wang Ling, and Wang Chang are still punished."
Appointed to serve the imperial court."
"It's a bit far to talk about these things." The emperor smiled and put his hands behind his back, and said softly: "Mr. Yang, you are a minister, why don't you tell me how to deal with Yang Zhong?"
"I thought that in accordance with the law, I could be dismissed from my position and deprived of my salary." Yang Qi was cruel and finally decided to let Yang Zhong leave the court in accordance with the emperor's wishes and carry a stigma.
"If you are demoted to a commoner, you will not be able to accept disciples and preach in this life!" the emperor suddenly added.
"I'm at your service." At this point, Yang Qi had no choice but to say this in a calm voice, and the strength in his body seemed to be drained all of a sudden.
The emperor showed a satisfied look at this time. He began to show respect for the ministers and personally reached out to help Yang Qi up. The emperor looked at Yang Qi's white hair at close range and said with pity and tenderness: "Mr. Yang
, I remember that before Dong was executed, I had just recovered from a serious illness. If you hadn't been running around for me at that time, persuading my subjects, how could I be where I am today?"
When Yang Qi mentioned the love affair back then, he trembled and seemed to have some realization. He stood up tremblingly, pretending to be brave and looked at the emperor: "Your Majesty..."
"That's right." The emperor looked at Yang Qi, who seemed to want to look directly, but finally looked away as if surrendering, and said with emotion: "Back then, he was not afraid of the tigers and leopards that seemed to be beside my bed. He just gave me an order and he stood beside my bed.
The minister who sat down was once regarded as a confidant by me! But now, Zhao Qian, Yang Zan, Zhang Chang, Ma Rixi and others have left one after another..." As he spoke, he let go of Yang Qi who was holding on tightly.
Shoulder, took a step back: "Even you are old."
"Your Majesty..." Yang Qi seemed to be unable to stand. He staggered, as if something was stuck in his throat and he couldn't say anything.
The emperor nodded, looking at the cool autumn light outside the verandah, his eyes seemed to be recalling, and his last words almost instantly defeated the other party: "Mr. Yang, can you still attract big birds after you die?"
At that time, Yang Qi's great-grandfather Yang Zhen was well-known for his virtues. When he was buried after his death, a big bird flew up and circled mournfully in front of his tomb, which was called a miracle. When Emperor Xiaoling got along with Yang Qi, he was deeply impressed by Yang Qi's upright and strong character.
Xiao Qi's ancestor Yang Zhen, so Emperor Xiaoling had no choice but to say that Yang Qi should also attract big birds like Yang Zhen after his death.
Now times have changed, and Minister Geng Jie, who was outspoken and dared to remonstrate, failed in the end and was defeated in front of the emperor.
According to the emperor, if Yang Qi went against his true feelings for the sake of his family and was willing to give in, suffer humiliation, and endure injustice, would he really be worthy of his great-grandfather Yang Zhen? Can he still have enough character after his death to cause big birds to mourn for him?
?
The battered Yang Qi quickly collapsed psychologically. Although his body was still healthy, his heart was no longer as strong as before. Yang Qi no longer cared about the complicated government affairs, and even the emperor began to issue edicts.
He dismissed Yang Zhong on the charge of careless recommendation, but he remained indifferent.
In fact, his guess was right. The emperor not only wanted to take this opportunity to depose Yang Zhong, but also wanted to spread the matter to Yang Qi. Yang Qi's withdrawal from the court was the result that the emperor really wanted. Even if Yang Qi was involved in this matter.
I have never been involved in anything, but sometimes, it doesn't matter whether I am deeply involved or not. What is important is how to preserve the family's reputation and power.
However, after hearing the news that Yang Qi was planning to beg for his body and retire, the Yang clan members, especially the juniors who didn’t know what was going on, expressed their confusion. In their opinion, Yang Qi’s age and body were far from old age.
He could survive it smoothly, and wait until one day when Dong Cheng was defeated or Huang Wan recovered from his illness, and he could naturally take the position of the Three Lords.
"Ah Weng, you should think twice about this matter!" his son Yang Liang urged.
"Now that you've thought about it, just do what you want." Yang Qi's disciple, Guang Luxun Yang Biao, said in agreement.
"I have my own concerns." Yang Qi said without any doubt, and sent Yang Liang and others away. Among the Yang family's disciples who watched as they left, only Yang Xiu never said a word. He was silent for a long time, and finally sighed to Yang.
Biao said: "This son is not familiar with the world. What will he do after he becomes an official?"
Yang Biao looked at the back of a certain figure in the distance: "Young people of the Yang family will not be underestimated no matter where they go. It's just that the road ahead will be more difficult, but this is not necessarily a bad thing." He then sighed:
"I, the Yang family, have been going too smoothly over the past many years. Just like the Yuan family, if my journey had not been too smooth, how could I have developed an arrogant and rebellious heart in the end and not even looked down upon the country?"
"You're exaggerating." Yang Qi frowned, looking a little unhappy.
Yang Biao shook his head slightly, noncommittal.
The scene fell silent for a moment.
Yang Qi had a lot to say in his heart, but he didn't know where to start. What happened in the past few days seemed to have consumed all the energy for the rest of his life. The emperor's words that day were harsh, and his intention to persuade him to retreat was clear.
If he still refuses to leave, disaster awaits them.
Recalling that the Yang family was prominent in those days, he and Yang Zan had good relations with each other in the inner court, Yang Biao was in the outer court, and the Yang people helped each other, among the scholars there was Taixue offering wine to Yang Yi, and in the border army there was Yang Ru. But now the clan members
Withering away, there are not many descendants who are good enough. How can this not make Yang Qi worry about the future after he leaves!
"Dezu is talented and is a leader among his peers. Perhaps the success of the Yang family in the future should be attributed to this person." There is something in Yang Qi's words: "My boy can pass on my family's knowledge and inherit my family business. I will feel at ease."
Knowing a son is like a father, Yang Biao was not willing to give his son any more praise even in private. He shook his head, "This son is frivolous and not as stable as your boy. I am afraid that he will cause trouble in the future."
"With you here, I don't have such worries." Yang Qi said firmly. After he took Yang Zhong back to Hongnong, he could only rely on him from now on.
Yang Biao seemed a little surprised and raised his eyebrows to look at him.
"Huang Ziyan wants to come see me these days." Yang Qi looked at him calmly and said calmly: "He wants to check on my 'condition'."
"Oh." Yang Biao suddenly understood and understood immediately.
Huang Wan's ups and downs in the court were all inseparable from the support of the Yang family. Now that the Yang family will inevitably begin to weaken, they can only focus on prioritizing the development of their own family in the court. Therefore, although Huang Wan cannot be said to be completely
Without the support of the Yang family, it will be difficult to use the Yang family as a solid barrier in the future. Fortunately, Huang Wan now has the support of Jingxiang scholars, coupled with the relatively friendly relationship with Yingchuan, he can still barely do so.
Stand firm.
Yang Qi's avoidance of Huang Wan is already "abandonment" in another sense. Huang Wan is a smart man and will naturally not come back in the future.
However, Yang Biao read a different meaning from Yang Qi's worried look. He groaned and asked attentively: "Is it true that Huang Ziyan can't be saved?"
If so, the price would be too high, because Yang Zhong encouraged the Song family to do evil to the court with a few words, and there was no clear and intuitive evidence. Based on this alone, the emperor wanted to remove Yang Qi and Huang Wan at once, both of whom had the power of prime ministers.
Minister?
"Whether he can survive or not depends on himself." Yang Qi took a long breath. After this incident, even if Yang wanted to help Huang Wan, he was powerless. Most likely, this was the emperor's opportunity to punish him and Yang Zhong and weaken him.
The truth about Yang.
Yang Biao began to think carefully and analyzed: "With Jing and Xiang as the backbone of the chair, and the Yingchuan scholars as friendly people, Huang Ziyan has always been cautious and wise, rarely makes mistakes, and is familiar with the country's temperament... I don't think so."
"Sometimes." Yang Qi sighed suddenly and retorted unconvincingly: "Having too many people is not a good thing."
Yang Biao was stunned. The other party seemed to be talking about Huang Wan, and also seemed to be talking about the Yang family.
"If that day comes, you will definitely take over his position." Yang Qi said very firmly, as if everything had been foregone conclusion. He reached out and patted the shoulder of the disciple in front of him, but the other party actually didn't
Even though he was young, he spent so much money not just to get Yang's safety.
The birth of the prince did not bring a turn of events for the Song family. Song Hong was deposed as a commoner in prison. When he heard the news in prison, he was not only happy for the Song family to give birth to the eldest son of the emperor, but also for Song Hong.
He was frightened by his unchangeable fate, and soon died in prison due to a surprise.
The remaining relatives of the Song family also suffered the fate of being exiled to Xihai County. All the assets accumulated by the Song family in a short period of time were owned by the imperial court. The other powerful and powerful people who relied on the Song family were also more or less implicated. Under the auspices of Dong Cheng
It almost started a major case, but it was finally stopped when the emperor intervened.
After a period of time, things gradually calmed down, and Yang Qi began to submit a letter to resign under the pretext of old illness. The emperor naturally refused and continued to keep Yang Qi as a minister, but only took back the power of the other party's "Ping Shangshu Shi".
Soon after, Yang Qi resigned again and wrote a letter asking him to return to Hongnong to cooperate with the government in checking household registration and implementing the court's policies. The emperor refused again and even made Yang Qi the Marquis of Xixiang to show his trust.
After receiving the title and the land, Yang Qi wrote to the emperor for the third time to resign, and finally received the emperor's permission.
After that, only Yang Biao was the most famous person in the Yang family in the court. However, Yang Biao was only the ninth minister and had no power to participate in the decision-making of government affairs. The decline of the Yang family was almost obvious.