Gao Jizhi and others were celebrating the historic moment of overthrowing Niuyuan in a side room. Tongpao Chen poured a bowl of hot wine, said loudly, and handed it to Zeng Liang.
Zeng Liang took the wine bowl with both hands, blew it, only took a sip, and put it aside: "Shilang Chen, I have given you too much praise. What contribution can I, Zeng, make? It's just that I can't stand the traitor Niu Yuan, and I want to get rid of him for everyone in the world."
That’s all.”
"Where, where!" Chen Tongpao said with a smile, "Zeng Shangshu didn't know that the attack in the court today was planned by Gao Shangshu and I. We have already discussed it."
Zeng Liang looked around blankly, and when he saw Gao Jizhi, Ye Yongjia nodded a few times, and then he suddenly realized what he was doing and started laughing.
"But I didn't tell you that I knew it. This is because you expressed support for Niu Yuan's proposal before setting off, so we had doubts in our hearts and did not dare to communicate with you. Who would have thought that you are impartial and unpartisan?
It is really commendable to speak according to reason and not to care about human feelings. On the contrary, it shows that I am a villain!"
"I have been an official for several years, but I only know how to be upright. I have no other merits. You are really flattering me when you say this." After saying that, Zeng Liang held up the tea again and glanced at Ye Yongjia, "But
What I didn’t expect was that Ye Shangshu would abandon Party Liu and defect to you? Could it be that this person has some evil intentions?"
Ye Yongjia has been silent next to him, not feeling a bit happy. Although he has no sympathy for Niu Yuan, and is even a little disgusted, he also knows what kind of deeds this group of sanctimonious gentlemen are doing. Nowadays, they are just relying on
Their hands are just for revenge, so why bother to be happy about this victory? Because
And he had been sipping tea for a long time, and when he heard Zeng Liang ask him, he slowly raised his head: "Master Zeng misunderstood. Liu Zhennian and I have always had a hatred for killing our father, and we are sworn in. However, due to the current situation, we have no choice but to do so."
I can only rely on others. Now that the time has come, as you said, of course I can 'reform'."
"In fact, it is not easy to say the word "anyway" now," Ye Yongjia continued. "There are ups and downs in the court, one rises and one falls. It has been relatively rare in recent years. What is good today will be evil tomorrow. It is impossible to tell the good from the bad.
, it’s nothing more than changing the door.”
After Zeng Liang heard this, he seemed to be touched in his heart. His face was filled with shame, and he turned his head and became silent.
Chen Tongpao knew Ye Yongjia's character, so he was not surprised by his speech, but he toasted him with a cup of tea with a smile: "Tinglong is indeed wise, and this passage is really thought-provoking. We should abandon the clique and clique.
The heart is for the country!"
The day after Niu Yuan was thrown into prison, the imperial court announced the results of his treatment: to gather cronies, deceive the emperor and commit various serious crimes, and then be executed at a later date. This result seemed to be expected, but it was
It also took a lot of trouble. In order to make Niu Yuan's imprisonment seem more justified, the ministers searched for his shortcomings everywhere, no matter what.
He had to attach great importance to everything, so that he was accused like a wave of "in order to protect his own power, he openly resisted Prime Minister Liu's measures to punish his cronies, and also tried to use other things to divert attention and frame ministers. It was extremely abominable! Fortunately, Liu
The prime minister had a clear idea a long time ago and planned to capture him. Today it is appropriate to show his head to the public to comfort the world!"
After several exaggerations by some ministers, people in Kaifeng began to think that Liu Zhennian’s trip was just to get rid of Niu Yuan, except for Liu Zhennian himself. But he had already accepted Niu Yuan’s conviction and could no longer defend himself.
What's wrong? I can only helplessly watch the rumors spread wantonly, and helplessly watch Niu Yuan's fate towards death.
At this time, Niu Yuan was very calm. He strode towards the execution ground, neither blaming anyone nor asking for mercy. Instead, he passed the crowd with a smile on his face and looked at the endless vast sky. His usual temperament changed unexpectedly.
He became so easy-going and fearless, and even asked the executioner behind him: "Is this your first time in your life to kill a high-ranking official like me? Don't be nervous, tie me up well. Instead, with one knife, you will kill people and animals."
What’s the difference?”
"Oh, you're right." The executioner looked at this once all-powerful figure with a bit of awe, but he still seemed polite.
He shook off his messy hair, straightened his back, closed his eyes, and realized that the ideals and ambitions he once had were all gone. He had always dreamed of ruling the country with power, but now he didn't care so much about it, and he actually laughed a few times.
I don’t know if it’s my heart
Dejected and cold, he still saw through the world. Nothing mattered anymore. These false thoughts seemed to turn into silvery white powder in front of his eyes, dancing gently in the dark curtain until they dispersed and disappeared. He finally opened his eyes.
Open your eyes.
The cannon fired three times, thick smoke billowed, and heads fell to the ground.
The unlimited glory of the Liu Party was a near-perfect victory. This was imposed on Liu Zhen by the bureaucrats. They rejoiced and celebrated it, and gave the old prime minister a team of players to play and beat, and cheered enthusiastically.
With everyone heading north, they left Kaifeng Fucheng. The major corruption case that was supposed to be handled had to be left alone, but that
The officials who had been verified could not escape. Hu Chonglian was killed, and the prefect and others were also pushed into the execution ground and beheaded them all with one knife. The people were happy that Mr. Liu had upheld justice for them, and the cheers were shocking.
Heaven and earth, this voice happened to be heard by Liu Zhennian, who was not far away, but he had no emotion at all, and his heart became more and more twisted.
Su Zongshan was still lying on the hospital bed in the inn. When he heard the news that Niu Yuan had been killed, he immediately knocked over the medicinal soup, broke the porcelain bowl, threw down the quilt, jumped up, laughed a few times, and suddenly felt sick.
He was mostly recovered. When Liu Zhennian came back here, he went to see him with the support of his entourage, and immediately
He kowtowed twice and said: "The Prime Minister can distinguish right from wrong, except for traitors, which is really a blessing for the country. I hate that Su is not in good health and can't accompany the Prime Minister. Otherwise, why bother to go through such hardships? In my humble position, I usually think that Feng Xiang is just arrogant.
, I never thought that I would be such a person, I am very sorry..."
Liu Zhennian held the sword at his waist and stared at him with wide eyes, his whole body still showing murderous aura. But his old body seemed unable to withstand such aura and could no longer deter him.
At this point, the old prime minister had no choice but to hold on to a stiff smile and console him against his will: "I do everything with ease, so how can I encounter any difficulties? Now that the traitorous ministers have been eliminated, the government will be clean and clear, and it is probably possible to revive the government!"
Su Zongshan also laughed awkwardly: "That's, that's..."
The two chatted for a while, and after dinner in the afternoon, they prepared to return to Beijing. Liu Zhennian used the whip to spur the horse, but still walked in front of the officials, but the heavy sun had quietly set on his back.