Chapter fifty-ninth eight quarters before midnight
"The sun is the yang essence. It keeps the truth and does not suffer losses. It is also the image of the king."
In the spring of the fourth year of Chuping, the first month of the year was Jiayin Shuo, which was the first day of the year.
The watch on the side of the Chengming Hall was counting the passage of time bit by bit. From Sangong to Jiuqing, the doctors all gathered in this Chengming Hall. They sat down one by one, everyone's face remained calm.
With a solemn and solemn expression, the scene was so quiet that only the sound of more leaking water could be heard.
Everyone is secretly paying attention to the time scale displayed on the screen.
Because today is the day of the solar eclipse predicted by Taishi Ling Wang Li. According to the calculations of Wang Li and his officials who are familiar with astronomy, today's solar eclipse will occur at the eighth hour of the twelfth lunar month, which converted to later generations' time is approximately 1:20 p.m.
Four points.
As early as the primitive period, ancient people began to predict solar eclipses through divination. It was not until the Eastern Han Dynasty that Wang Chong discovered the periodic pattern of solar eclipses. There is an eclipse of the sun in the 42nd month and an eclipse of the moon in the 56th month.
Although this rule is still very rough and there are errors, but every time Taishi Ling makes a prediction, the emperor has to take certain measures. For example, at this time, the emperor is wearing plain clothes and avoiding the main hall.
Taichang presided over the cutting of sheep for the shrine to save the sun. This time, the minister also sent a special envoy wearing a red turban and carrying a sword to serve Chun Yang.
Time passed little by little. During this period, Taiwei Huangfusong and Situ Ma Rixi were frightened in their hearts because of the disaster of the solar eclipse, but on the whole they looked calm. As for their integrity and not being arrogant.
The famous Sikong Huangwan rarely frowned in deep thought, with a solemn look.
Guang Luxun Yang Biao, who was sitting at the bottom, couldn't help but look up at Huang Wan. This time, Huang Wan's criticism of Wang Yi was not at all expected by Yang and others. It was as if Huang Wan was the only one who
The impromptu actions of others, and even the independent actions of the Guandong scholars, left Yang, Zhao Wen and others as allies aside.
Huang Wan and those Guandong scholars were alienated from the Yang family intentionally or unintentionally. This was gradually reflected when a large number of Guandong celebrities and Confucian scholars came to the court after the imperial court re-established contact with Guandong.
Yang Biao was somewhat confused about Huang Wan's meaning, but in comparison, what he couldn't figure out even more was the emperor's meaning. Huang Wan's attitude could be discussed with the other party after the incident, but the emperor's attitude was only
We can guess based on his current words and deeds.
According to normal etiquette, whenever there is a disaster such as a solar eclipse, the emperor must dismiss the court meeting, wear plain clothes and sit on the door, bow quietly in the palace, and do not listen to political affairs. Zhao Qi also went to court for this, but was rejected by the emperor.
The reason given is also very sufficient. It is a sentence in the "Book of Rites": "When princes travel to meet the emperor, there are four reasons why they fail to pay tribute at the entrance: fire in the Taimiao, eclipse of the sun, mourning of the queen, and loss of appearance due to the rain."
I remember that in the palace, everyone had different opinions on the emperor's approach. Among them, Yang Yi said: "There will be disasters in the three chens, nothing greater than a solar eclipse. When I heard that the Taishi ordered to announce the divine punishment, His Majesty showed no fear. Not only did he not take precautions
He also has to continue to hold the New Year's Day ceremony in the morning, where he has a great feast and celebrates the king and his ministers. Is this an attitude of taking the blame for natural disasters on one's own body?"
Yang Biao replied at the time: "The four matters of etiquette are indeed true. The initiation of the ceremony should not be abandoned at the end of the ceremony. The New Year's Day dynasty has been prepared for so long, and Taishi Ling also said that the solar eclipse will occur in the afternoon, so it is indeed not appropriate to stop it."
"In ancient times, disasters occurred, and court rituals were not abolished for the sake of change. Either the emperor of tomorrow will be in court and natural disasters will disappear, or it is the fallacy of Taishi's order." Yang Zhong's words completely awakened everyone.
In their understanding and thinking, the emperor could not be fearless about a major disaster like a solar eclipse, but the other party still held the New Year's Day ceremony in his own way, which must be based on something.
Could it be that the emperor had doubts about Taishi Ling's calculations, or was just lucky, so he ordered the imperial court to be held as usual and did not hesitate to cancel the court rituals?
Then the emperor put on this posture immediately after holding the imperial dynasty. Who was he targeting? Or, who was he trying to scare?
When Yang Biao was lost in memories and contemplation, and was filled with doubts, he only heard
"Click."
Genglu suddenly made an undetectable sound, calling Yang Biao out of his thoughts. He saw the wooden arrow marked with scales lifted up by half a minute, revealing a moment of time.
At eight o'clock in the afternoon, it's here.
Everyone involuntarily turned their attention to the sky outside the palace. The sky was blue at this time. Although the winter sun was dim, it hung extremely conspicuously on the sky.
No solar eclipse!
Taishi ordered Wang Li to make a miscalculation!
Some ministers who couldn't hold themselves back straightened up and remained half sitting and half standing on the table. Even Huang Wan and others stared at the bright sun in the sky in amazement.
Huang Wan looked even more serious. Few people here knew what concessions he made to the emperor for this solar eclipse. They didn't expect that the final result would be like this!
"The disaster has come to an end, this is what happened." Ma Rixi smiled and took a leisurely look around the crowd. Finally, his eyes fell on Huang Wan: "I will enter the palace to congratulate His Majesty."
Huang Wan nodded with a somewhat ugly expression. Without saying much, he stood up and led hundreds of officials into the front hall of Weiyang Palace to celebrate the good omen with Ma Rixi.
The emperor was dressed in plain clothes and was sitting upright in the palace. On his left and right were his attendants Yang Qi and Xun You, and even Pingzhunling Jia Xu, who was not supposed to be here, was sitting at the bottom.
Ma Rixi led everyone to bow down to the emperor and said: "It is a blessing that the disaster was eliminated before it happened. I would like to congratulate your majesty."
The emperor didn't take it seriously and waved his sleeves lightly, saying: "Perhaps Taishi Ling's calculation of the time was wrong. There is no rush to celebrate. Just to be cautious, there is no harm in waiting."
Ma Rixi was stunned and couldn't help but raise his eyes to look at the emperor. He saw the emperor staring at the sky outside the palace, his expression as calm as usual.
Huang Wan thought that the emperor was bluffing, and was playing tricks on him. He felt unhappy and congratulated him again, hoping to put an end to this embarrassing incident as soon as possible.
Unexpectedly, the emperor insisted on his words and his attitude was resolute. Everyone had no choice but to follow him quietly in the palace.
It was only at this time that some people realized something was wrong. Logically speaking, no matter whether there was a solar eclipse or not, the emperor's goal had been achieved, Huang Wan had surrendered, and Wang Yi had been preserved.
But things didn't seem to end there. About a quarter of an hour later, the sky suddenly darkened, and the originally clear and bright sky immediately began to look like dusk.
Everyone watched in horror as the sky gradually dimmed. At this time, bursts of gongs and drums suddenly sounded outside the hall, which meant that the prayer ceremony had officially begun.
After a while, when the solar eclipse passed, the emperor, who had always looked normal, looked at the panicked courtiers below and chuckled softly: "As soon as the officials have finished celebrating, it will be a birthday eclipse. Wouldn't this make the world laugh!
"
Just when everyone was in shock and doubt, Pingzhun ordered Jia Xu to speak up. He left the banquet and said: "The order of Taishi Wang Li is not clear, and the suspicion is misunderstood. The three official officials should be dismissed. Please punish them all!"
I thought this was the end, but I didn't expect it had just begun.
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty alone, the imperial court has experienced hundreds of disasters, and countless three princes have been dismissed as a result. The frequency of replacement has gradually made everyone accustomed to it. However, Wang Li made a miscalculation and almost made a joke. This is also
It is indeed a responsibility that cannot be shied away from.
Therefore, people were not curious about Jia Xu's memorial. Instead, which of the three princes the emperor would ask to "take the blame and resign" was the focus of everyone's attention.
The emperor said slowly: "The vision coming from heaven is due to my lack of virtue..."
He deliberately spoke slowly and in a long tone, just to put pressure on the people below, so that he could better control the rhythm of the discussion.
There was silence in the front hall, and everyone held their breath. Only the emperor's voice sounded loud and clear.
"His Majesty!"
Huang Wan suddenly called out in a loud voice, and immediately prostrated himself on the ground without haste. His voice was steady and powerful: "Your Majesty is the master of the world. He is wise and wise. He has contributed more to the country than to the world. If you have food today, you are my minister."
It is the minister's fault that he failed to fulfill his duties as Kuangbi."
After speaking, he took off the crown from his head with both hands and placed it on the ground silently.
A few simple actions, a calm and determined tone, and a straightforward attitude surprised everyone.
When there was silence, Zhong Shao suddenly stood up and defended Huang Wan: "As the saying goes, 'Sima governs the sky, Situ masters, and Sikong masters the earth, these are the three masters'. Solar eclipses are natural changes, and they have been the same for several generations.
This is the dismissal of a Taiwei, and there has never been any precedent of using Sikong as a substitute for his fault. I hope that Your Majesty will be able to judge the virtues of the three talents and make an appropriate decision."
The censor, Cheng Huandian, also bowed down and agreed, and everyone knelt down one after another.
A faint smile appeared on the emperor's face. Although the solar eclipse was small, it seemed to be a God-given opportunity for the emperor at the moment. He was naturally the infallible Son of Heaven, so this kind of innate nature that could not yet be explained
The vision must have a scapegoat.
What Zhong Shao said was indeed the truth. Solar eclipses only exempted Taiwei, but not Sikong. Huang Wan saw this clearly, so he retreated in order to advance, not wanting the emperor to continue to hold on to him.
As a Taiwei, Huangfu Song knew that he would encounter this result. When he saw that the officials were vaguely pointing the finger at him, he no longer pretended to be deaf and dumb, and immediately took off his hat and resigned.
"There is a disaster coming from heaven, and as a warning to the people, the captain will take the blame and resign. Is this what I intended?" the emperor said hypocritically.
Even if Huangfu Song shouldered all the blame, the emperor could not impatiently blame him for the divine punishment. This would appear to be too ungrateful. So after several back and forths between the emperor and his ministers, the emperor dismissed Huangfu Song with regret.
.
Although Huang Wan escaped prosecution this time, the Taishi Ling Wang Li could not escape the blame due to a miscalculation. Immediately afterwards, the emperor issued an edict to depose the king and make him a commoner. Along with Dazai, Prime Minister Sun Du and other Wang Yun's old party members, they also
He was impeached and dismissed one by one by Jia Xu for deceiving his saintly virtues and even being punished by heaven.
This is the emperor's beating against Huang Wan and someone, and Jia Xu's revenge for the criticism of Wang Yi and himself.
Shortly after this, the official edict on the appointment and dismissal of Taiwei was quickly finalized: "We will remove Taiwei Huangfu Song and demote him to the rank of Guanglu doctor; we will appoint Chariot and Cavalry General Dong Cheng as Taiwei and record the affairs of the minister."