"By the fate of heaven, the emperor issued an edict. I ordered you to proclaim and pacify Yanyun. I expected you to educate the people of Yanyun and bring the land of Yanyun to the king. However, you rebelled against the etiquette and ignored the king's teachings. The fallacies and heresies are really a crime to be punished! I originally planned to arrest you and bring you back to the capital, but because you have worked so hard and accomplished so much and it is your first offense, I will forgive you this time. You should immediately abandon the fallacies and return to the royal way. What do I think of this? Comfort! Admire this."
Yang Peng walked up and took the imperial edict with both hands. The eunuch raised his chin and said: "The imperial edict has been delivered, so we must leave." Even so, he did not move. He was waiting for Yang Peng's filial piety. Yang Peng clasped his fists and said: "I won't send it."
The eunuch frowned, snorted, and walked away. Yang Peng smiled coldly. He opened the imperial edict and read it again, then threw it to the female guard captain Jiang Li, "Throw it in the toilet!" Jiang Li felt very funny. .
Yang Peng returned to his desk and sat down. Qian Letian clasped his fists and asked, "Lord, do you want to implement the requirements of the imperial edict?" Yang Peng shook his head, frowned and said, "We have no time to waste, so ignore this!" Qian Letian thought deeply. nodded,
The scholar surnamed Li returned to Yanyun and told all the Confucian scholars the good news that the emperor had issued an order to reprimand Yang Peng. The Confucian scholars were greatly excited and were waiting to see the show! However, as the days passed, schools in various places continued to operate as usual, and It was getting more and more prosperous, and there was no sign of stopping! The Confucian scholars were frightened and angry. Under the leadership of a well-known old Confucian scholar, more than a thousand people gathered to make trouble in front of the left-behind mansion in Yanjing, carrying the The memorial tablet and statue of Confucius asked Yang Peng why he resisted the decree and did not follow the right path.
The secret guards and female guards in the mansion immediately rushed out of the gate and surrounded the Confucian scholars. After hearing the news, the three female generals Li Yanming, Yang Jiumei, and Han Bing came with five thousand soldiers and horses to support them. They surrounded the Confucian scholars on three levels with spears and sharp blades. The Confucian scholars couldn't help but panic when they saw such a posture, and the arrogance they had just died down instantly!
Yang Peng, dressed in casual clothes, strolled out with his hands behind his back. He stood on the steps and glanced at the group of so-called social elites in front of him. In his eyes, these social elites were worse than trash! "I am Yang Peng, what do you think? What are you doing?" Yang Peng said. The Confucian students immediately started a commotion. The old Confucian scholar at the head asked angrily: "Excuse me, sir, why don't you teach Confucianism in the academy, but teach these fallacies? What is the intention of the master?" All the Confucian scholars agreed one after another. , the scene became noisy again.
Han Bingfeng stared and shouted angrily: "Shut up!" The scene immediately fell silent. These men who were hiding seven feet away were as silent as a cicada under Han Bing's power! It's really useless! Yang Peng laughed and said: "Who said that Confucian knowledge is not taught? Confucianism is also taught in various schools. You don't know it, right?"
The old Confucian scholar frowned and said: "But at the same time, he is still teaching other doctrines. Since Emperor Wu only respected Confucianism, my Confucianism has been orthodox. As a strategist, how can you abandon the right path and go astray? Isn't this right? Isn’t it putting the cart before the horse and confusing right and wrong?”
Yang Peng said with a smile: "Since Confucianism is so good, why are you afraid of comparing it with other theories? The weak have always been afraid of competing with the strong, and the ugly have been afraid of competing with the beautiful! Are you so afraid, are you right? Don’t you have confidence in Confucianism?”
The old Confucian scholar was a little panicked and said in a strong voice: "We are orthodox, why bother comparing with the crooked ways!" Yang Peng said mockingly: "You don't understand the truth, you don't dare to debate or compare with others, but you insist on your own
It’s orthodox, isn’t it a joke!”
The old Confucian scholar had nothing to say, and became angry and said: "Your Majesty makes strong arguments, and I will not argue with you! We are here this time to ask you why you ignored His Majesty the Emperor's imperial edict. Isn't this rebellion?" Yang
Peng said calmly: "It has happened since ancient times that the emperor will not accept your orders." The old Confucian scholar pointed at Yang Peng and shouted: "How dare you deceive the emperor?!"
Yang Peng laughed heartily, and the laughter was full of sarcasm. The laughter made the Confucian scholars, both young and old, confused and confused. Chen Xiao stopped laughing and said to the old Confucian scholar: "Old man, after studying all your life, don't you even have a basic truth?"
Do you understand?" "What?"
Yang Peng glanced at the Confucian scholars and asked sarcastically: "Don't you Confucian scholars know what it means to convince people with reason? You actually brought the emperor out when there was no reason to say it! Aren't you ashamed!"
The surrounding soldiers and the onlookers all laughed. The Confucian scholars felt like clowns being watched, and they just wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
The old Confucian pointed at Chen Xiao angrily and said: "You, you are so blasphemous to the right way, you will suffer the consequences sooner or later!..." "Old guy, are you going to carry the emperor out again!" A young man onlookers shouted loudly.
There was another round of ridicule at the scene. The old Confucian scholar turned around and pointed at the common people, staring with livid eyes, "You, you are worse than beasts!"
"That's enough!" Yang Peng shouted. All the Confucian scholars couldn't help but trembled. They felt Yang Peng's anger. Yang Peng said coldly: "Isn't it because I have read a few bad books that I am one step ahead of others? I think so.
Let me ask you, what can you do? Can you fight the enemy on the battlefield, can you bring a steady stream of taxes to the country, can you build houses, or can you produce food? Maybe you will say that you can govern the country,
Huh, look at the world now governed by people like you, what a state of decay the people have become!"
A Confucian scholar said loudly and unconvincingly: "My lord, what you said is too extreme! Aren't Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, Du Ruhui, and Fang Xuanling not Confucian scholars?" Everyone agreed. Yang Peng laughed and said: "Since you mentioned Zhuge Liang, then
You must know what Zhuge Liang said in his verbal battle with the Confucian scholars, right?" The scene immediately fell silent.
Yang Peng asked: "Ask yourselves, are you a gentleman's Confucianism as Zhuge Liang said, or a villain's Confucianism? Have people like Zhuge Liang and others done what you are doing now? None of them are broad-minded and tolerant.
Gentleman of all things? When have you rejected other schools of thought? Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu both dabbled in military strategism and legalism, and Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling did not only focus on Confucianism. What these people whose names have been passed down through the ages cares about is not which theory, but whether these theories are correct.
The country is useful. Here, I would like to give you some advice: don’t argue all day long about what you should get, but ask yourself what you can provide to others? No one owes you anything!”
The Confucian scholars were depressed, a little ashamed, and speechless. Yang Peng said: "Actually, you don't need to make such a high-sounding slogan, let alone carry the statue and spiritual tablet of Confucius out to show off. What you hate is not the current one in the academy.
Those courses. You hate me for not letting you serve as officials in various yamen, so you just use them as excuses!"
All the Confucian students felt as if Yang Peng had ripped off their fig leaf, and they were so embarrassed that Yang Peng said: "I want to reiterate. No one deliberately does not use Confucian students. The criteria for selecting officials at all levels of the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures is to have special skills.
, In other words, you have to be useful, whether you are a Confucian scholar or not. As a criminal official, you must at least know how to investigate cases. Officials who manage the collection and storage of market warehouses must at least know statistics. Officials who manage agriculture must at least know what is grown in grain fields.
Wheat or rice. Come and tell me, if you don’t understand these things and only know how to play chess, calligraphy and painting, what’s the use? Yamen are institutions that manage society, not juggling halls for people’s entertainment!”
Some people loudly said: "The general is right. If these trashes are allowed to be officials, they will definitely be animals like Pang Taishi Wang Qinruo. We people will suffer a lot. The general will never allow these to be officials!" The common people all said one after another.
They started shouting, and the crowd became violent for a while.
The Confucian scholars suddenly found that they had become the target of public criticism. They were panicked and didn't know what to do. The Four Books and Five Classics didn't teach them at all! Yang Peng said in a loud voice: "Okay! You all go back. This time I will be extrajudicial to the law."
You are guilty of gathering a crowd to make trouble! Study hard and learn some useful knowledge. Don’t always think about getting something for nothing!”
Han Bing shouted: "It's gone!" The Confucian scholars ran away with their heads in hand, not caring about the statue and tablet of Confucius, and ran away amidst the laughter of the people. Yang Peng shook his head and said to Han Bing, Yang Jiumei and Li Yanming: "
Okay, you can go back to the military camp." The three female generals clasped their fists and promised, and led their men to leave. The people were amazed when they saw their heroic appearance riding horses, and the men looked in admiration, and they couldn't help but feel like joining the army.
Women are very envious of their impulsiveness and long to be in the spotlight like them.
Yang Peng returned to the hall. Qian Letian said with a smile: "My lord, what I said was really pleasing to the people!" Then he frowned and said: "But my lord, you must not underestimate the ability of these scholars to spread rumors! I'm worried that it won't be long before the Confucian scholars in the world will take my lord.
Depicted like a devil!" Yang Peng waved his hand, "Let them have their say! This rule that has lasted for more than a thousand years must be changed, otherwise we will have no future. As for the hatred of those people, the coming of troops will stop the tide.
Cover it up!"
As expected, those Confucian scholars did not stop, and continued to communicate, and another person came to Beijing to complain. The emperor and the court were shocked when they heard that Yang Peng had not restored Confucian education. At this time, Cao Bin's investigation report was also presented to the court.
, categorically said that Yang Peng had indeed conspired to do evil, and produced many letters and witnesses as evidence. How could Wang Qinruo be so capable and obtain so much evidence in such a short period of time? It turned out that these so-called
All the evidence was concocted by Taishi Pang.
The emperor was furious and adopted Taishi Pang's suggestion and issued an edict to summon Yang Peng to Beijing on the grounds of asking about Yan Yun's situation. The development of the matter was exactly as Yelu Yuchi expected. The imperial envoys of the imperial court rushed to Yanjing and conveyed the emperor's message
The imperial edict ordered Yang Peng to go to Beijing immediately and report to His Majesty's court on various issues concerning the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
Yang Peng refused on the grounds that the Yanyun bandits had not suppressed the Jin army's invasion of the country. The imperial envoy said some harsh words and left angrily. "My lord, this time I have openly resisted the decree. I'm afraid the court will not let it go!" Zuo
Mou said worriedly. Han Bingbing said with a smile: "The imperial court has spent countless money and suffered countless losses in suppressing bandits and the Northern Expedition in the past few years. What power does it have to deal with us?"
Qian Letian said: "General Han is right. Although the imperial court is still grand, it is already empty. Even so, the emperor is still raising money to build his Gen Yue. Where are the resources to deal with us? Let's not talk about these for now.
Said, even if they have the resources, I'm afraid they don't have the people! In these years of conquests, Song Ting has lost countless soldiers in vain. Today's army is just an empty show. Even the remaining armies have been deprived of pensions by the court.
Due to the reasons of food and salary, our combat effectiveness is low and we are simply not equipped to fight. We don’t need to worry about the court at all. The only thing the court can do to us is to stop the food and salary of hundreds of thousands of troops."
Yang Peng said: "What Qian Letian said is very good! But we can't just let the situation develop like this. We still have to find a way to guide the court's actions in the direction we want." Looking at Kou Yan, "Kou Yan, your secret
Go to the capital and have a good talk with Kou Zhun, explain clearly the threat from the Song people, ask him to understand our difficulties, and also tell him that the threat from the Song people is imminent, and ask the court to prepare for war to deal with it.
Unexpected!" Kou Yan stood up, clasped his fists in agreement, and then frowned and said: "I'm afraid Kou Zhun's words won't work in the court and in front of the emperor!"
"It's better than nothing, just do your best to obey fate. At the same time, you have to pay a visit to Wang Qinruo, Lin Te and others. Although these corrupt officials are hateful, they are very useful at this time." "Yes." Qian Letian clasped his fists and said: "My lord.
"My subordinates think we can send someone to the Liao Kingdom." "Oh?" "We can pretend to express our willingness to form an alliance in order to disperse the Liao army pressing on our border, and then we can plan the Northern Expedition."
Yang Peng thought about it, frowned and shook his head: "No, I can't do this kind of thing. Besides, Liao people are not stupid, they will not be fooled so easily." After the meeting, Yang Peng came to Zhao Jinxi's room. Zhao Jinxi saw him.
Yang Peng came in, quickly put down the embroidery in his hand and stood up to greet him.
Yang Peng hugged Zhao Jinxi and buried his head on his neck, "Hey, it's so hard!" Zhao Jinxi couldn't help but feel distressed, and said softly: "Brother is a great hero, so it is rare for him to have leisure time. If brother feels it's hard, little brother
How about my sister playing the piano for you?" Yang Peng let go of Zhao Jinxi and nodded with a smile.
Zhao Jinxi immediately walked to the piano stand and knelt down, looked up at Yang Peng, and the two smiled at each other. Zhao Jinxi gently plucked the strings, and the quiet sound of the piano rippled out, his red lips opened slightly, and his teeth were looming,
The beautiful melody of "The Case of Green Jade: Yuan Xi" makes people mesmerized. Yang Peng sat down at the round table opposite, looked at Zhao Jinxi's stunning appearance, and listened to the melodious piano and singing, he just felt this
What a joy in life!
The imperial envoy hurried back to the court and replied: "Yang Peng refused to obey the decree and refused to come to the capital!" Upon hearing this, the emperor and the officials were shocked and disoriented, and they were also at a loss. This is what civil servants are like, and conspiracy methods are of no use.
, they don’t know what to do.
Kong Yida stepped out of the queue and said angrily: "Your Majesty, this traitor's retrograde behavior has been fully exposed, and a large army should be dispatched to attack it immediately!" Some ministers agreed. Kou Zhun immediately stepped out of the queue, "Your Majesty, our country has been experiencing constant wars in recent years, and the treasury has long been exhausted.
The land is empty, the people are extremely poor, and the soldiers in various places have suffered heavy casualties, and they all have complaints. How can we conquer such a situation?"
Kong Yida said angrily: "Our country has a vast territory and millions of troops. How can we not even send troops to suppress the rebellion?" Kou Zhun showed disgust in his eyes, "Master Kong, national affairs are not important.
It’s so easy to just talk! Although our country has a vast territory, many places are extremely poor due to previous banditry and officials’ corruption and perversion of the law. It is impossible to export money and grain to support the country’s war. If money and grain are forcibly collected, it will only provoke civil unrest;
Although our dynasty has millions of soldiers in armor, a considerable number of troops have been wasted in previous campaigns. Today’s army has low morale and is hard to rely on, and is short of food and pay. How can we mobilize the army?”
Kong Yida couldn't help but was speechless. Kou Zhun clasped his fists towards the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, I think that the general did not follow the order and came to the capital for some reason. As far as I know, the Liao Kingdom is currently suppressed by an army of 550,000 people.
On the northern line of the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, and the banditry within the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun has not subsided, under such circumstances, how dare the general leave?" He looked at the imperial minister and asked: "Is what I said the truth?
General, would you please convey these words to His Majesty?"
The imperial envoy started hesitating at this time. Kou Zhun was furious and shouted: "If you don't tell the truth, when the truth comes out, you will be guilty of deceiving the emperor!" The imperial envoy was frightened and hurriedly said to the emperor, cupping his fists.
"Your Majesty, indeed, it is indeed like this!" The emperor said with some annoyance: "In that case, why didn't you say it?" "Weichen, Weichen thought that was just Yang Peng's prevarication."
Kou Zhun clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang has concealed the truth and deceived the emperor. Please punish him for the crime he deserves as a warning to others!" The imperial envoy said quickly: "Your Majesty, I have no intention of deceiving your Majesty. It is really true.
It was unintentional!” “That’s it, don’t do it again in the future!”
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Kou Zhun said: "Your Majesty, the Khitan people are now stationing millions of troops in our northern border. It can be said that Sima Zhao's intentions are known to everyone. He should immediately depose Hua Shi Gang and the Internal and External Manufacturing Bureau, and eliminate all unnecessary
Excise taxes and rewards to the armed forces to boost the morale of the people, and at the same time prepare the army for war in case of any danger!"
Lin Te said angrily: "Master Kou's words are exaggerated! The Liao people are our allies, how can they threaten us? As for boosting the people's morale, it is even more nonsense! Now that the world is peaceful and praised by all the people, what can we talk about?
Improve people’s morale!”
Wang Qinruo also said: "That's right! Master Kou is just trying to please others by grandstanding!" The emperor nodded with deep understanding, "Wang Aiqing, what Pang Aiqing said is absolutely true." "Your Majesty, you must not listen to these treacherous words!" Kou Zhun said.
said urgently.
Lin Te and others were furious, and Wang Qinruo retorted: "I really don't know who is the traitor! As the saying goes, a traitor is as loyal as a traitor. I'm afraid Master Kou is the real traitor!" Civil and military officials from all over the court agreed, and the emperor couldn't help but become suspicious and scolded.
"I've made up my mind, you don't have to say anything anymore!" Kou Zhun couldn't help but sigh.
When Kou Zhun returned to his residence, he happened to meet the Eighth Prince who came to pay him a visit. The two exchanged pleasantries, and then Kou Zhun invited the Eighth Prince to come to the study to talk. The two came to the study, and the guest and host sat down. Kou Zhun let out a long sigh.
When the prince saw this, he couldn't help asking about the reason. Kou Zhun recounted what happened in the court today from beginning to end. The eighth prince frowned and said, "The Khitan people are so ambitious, why can't your majesty and the ministers see it?" Kou Zhun said.
Zhun smiled bitterly and shook his head.
The eighth prince said worriedly: "I'm really worried! If the Khitans go south in large numbers, how should we deal with it?" Kou Zhun sighed. Thinking of something, he asked: "Do you think the general is a loyal minister or Cao Mengde?
Such a traitor?"
The Eighth Prince frowned and thought. He shook his head and said, "I don't know!" He looked at the Eighth Prince and said, "I hope he is the one who can turn the tide! Otherwise..." Both of them became worried.
Yanjing. In the evening, a herald entered the city of Yanjing from the west. Yang Peng hurriedly came to the hall. A dusty herald was waiting in the hall. When he saw Yang Peng coming in, he immediately stepped forward and clasped his fists.
He said: "I pay my respects to the general!"
"Get up and talk." "Thank you, General!" The herald stood up. Yang Peng asked, "Did something happen?" The herald clasped his fists and said, "The general sent me to report to the general. In the past half month, there has been a steady flow of people.
Grain and fodder baggage are constantly being transported to Datong Prefecture through Yanshan, and troops are constantly being mobilized to Datong Prefecture! The general is worried that the Khitans will attack Juyong Pass, so he specially sends a villain to ask for reinforcements!"
Yang Peng immediately walked to the map, his eyes fell on Datong Mansion, frowned, and asked, "Are you sure that the enemy's troops and supplies are all mobilizing to Datong Mansion?" "You're sure! Our army's scouts have penetrated deep into Datong.
Investigate around the house!"
Yang Peng said to the herald: "Go back immediately and tell Huyan Bixian that the reinforcements will arrive soon!" The herald clasped his fists in agreement and left in a hurry. Yang Peng called Jiang Li and ordered him to immediately send someone to take the troops left in Yan.
All important civil and military officials in Beijing were summoned. Jiang Li took the order and ran down.
Soon after, all the civil and military officials who stayed in Yanjing gathered in the lobby of the left-behind mansion. Everyone felt that the atmosphere was very serious, and they felt that something big might have happened. Yang Peng stood at the top and glanced at everyone, "I just received the news.
, the Liao Kingdom is making large-scale mobilizations!..." Everyone started talking in low voices, some with excitement on their faces, and others with worries on their faces.
Yang Peng said: "The target of the Liao people is not us, but the Central Plains!" Everyone showed surprise, Qian Letian frowned and said: "This is reasonable. In the eyes of the Khitan people, the Central Plains is obviously much easier to deal with than us, and
As long as we capture the Central Plains, we will be the turtle in the urn!"
What happened after all? Let’s look at the breakdown next time.