In the study room in the front hall of Shen University's residence, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were sitting as guests and hosts.
They had not just met each other, there had been a "tea tasting" in the flower hall with a group of important figures from the Xin School in Beijing, their disciples and two pavilion elders, and they had just ended.
Of course, the tea party is not really about tea tasting, but no matter what the party is, one thing is the same: a meeting with many people is not important, and an important meeting with not many people is important.
So now, the location of the "meeting" has been changed from the flower hall to the study room, and the number of participants has been greatly reduced to only two people. It is almost a meeting between secretaries. However, the two of them did not get into the topic immediately, but chatted a few words.
, I don’t know what riddle I am playing.
It wasn't until half the stick of incense was burned that Wang Xijue frowned slightly and said with a hint of displeasure: "How slow is Factory Supervisor Zhang?"
"Today is different from the past." Shen Shixing waved his hand and said: "After the two divisions of the Beijing Camp, the power of the Royal Horse Prison declined greatly. He was in charge of the Royal Horse Prison at that time, and it seemed that he had overwhelming power for a while, but in fact, the gold and jade were ruined.
But this is not the case now. Huang Mengyu was raised by Chen Ju, but he got the Dongchang... The Dongchang is a crucial place, and the admiral of the Dongchang has always been the easiest to gain power."
Wang Xijue pondered and said: "If we look at this matter, Chen Ju is worthy of his name and is quite well-behaved. But now it is Factory Supervisor Zhang..."
Shen Shixing smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter. If he wants to gain power, just let him do it first. His biggest opponent in gaining power is not us, but Gao Rixin."
Wang Xijue snorted softly and curled his lips and said, "I wonder what Gao Rixin is thinking about now?"
While they were talking, the housekeeper suddenly came to report that a noble person from the palace had arrived. Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue looked at each other and said, "Please."
Then the two of them stood up at the same time in a tacit understanding. Seeing that the other party was doing the same, they couldn't help but smile at each other, but there was obviously something magical in their smiles.
Soon Zhang Cheng came, but he did not change into casual clothes at this moment. Instead, he was wearing a bright red silk python suit, and he looked very energetic. When he saw Shen Yuanfu and the elders in the Wangge had already stood up to greet him, he couldn't help but feel proud.
He cupped his hands and said with a smile: "It's our family's fault for keeping Ergong waiting for so long. But this time, it's not our family's fault. It's because I was suddenly summoned by the emperor just before leaving the palace... Haha."
Shen Shixing's heart moved, and he returned the salute with his hand slightly, and asked seemingly casually: "The factory governor is your majesty's confidant, and it is really admirable to be inseparable for such a moment... But I don't know what other important matters the emperor has to deal with this night.
What did the factory supervisor say?"
"It's not that important." Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "The emperor came to our family and asked in a confused way: Do you know Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty?"
Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were moved at the same time. They looked at each other and asked in unison: "What did the factory supervisor say?"
Zhang Cheng laughed and said: "Our family was also taught by Jinshi (referring to Nei Shutang), how could we not know about Emperor Guangwu? Of course we know it."
Shen Shixing nodded and said with a smile: "Then what did the emperor say next?"
Zhang Cheng didn't look as calm as before this time. He coughed lightly and said, "The Emperor asked: Do you know why Emperor Guangwu didn't kill the heroes, but killed three prime ministers?"
Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were startled and looked at each other again. Then Wang Xijue took the initiative and asked, "How should the factory supervisor answer?"
Zhang Cheng smiled bitterly and said: "To be honest, our family really doesn't know about the emperor's problem, so we have to make a pretense and say, 'I'm just a slave. How can I know the emperor's thoughts, but the emperor's question is really difficult.'"
A slave.'"
Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue cursed in their hearts at the same time: What a slippery loach!
However, secretly scolding, they both had to admit that Zhang Cheng's answer was very smart, but in this way, they had to judge by themselves why the emperor suddenly asked this question.
Shen Shixing smiled and asked Zhang Cheng to take a seat, and then pretended to talk to himself and said, "What is the purpose of the emperor suddenly asking such a question?"
Zhang Cheng frowned and said: "We are also thinking of asking our two husbands for advice." The "Xiangong" here is the honorific title of the prime minister, because Shen Shixing is the chief minister, and it is generally not easy to just say "ge Lao", and Wang Xijue is only the last minister.
, so if it is obvious that "two pavilion elders" were unfair to Shen Shixing, and "two chief assistants" is naturally even more impossible, we have to say "two ministers".
Wang Xijue said: "Does the factory supervisor know what the emperor meant when he said Emperor Guangwu killed three prime ministers?"
Zhang Cheng was actually not serious about studying. Wang Xijue's question was a bit revealing, but he couldn't show it at the moment, so he could only say in a low voice: "Our family can't remember clearly at the moment."
Wang Xijue had known this for a long time, so he smiled slightly and said: "In the first month of the fifteenth year of Jianwu's reign in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu dismissed Han Xin from his post as Chief Situ. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the prime minister was renamed Chief Situ, but although Han Xin was a civil servant, he was actually
Those with military exploits were granted the title of Marquis of Fuyang. However, on his way back to his hometown after being dismissed from his post, he received an edict from the emperor and was forced to commit suicide along with his son.
As for why he was sentenced to death, it is said that it was because during a court meeting, Emperor Guangwu was reading the letters of Wei Xiao and Gongsun Shu. Han Xin suddenly said: "All kings who subjugate their country are talented, Jie and Zhou are also talented." Liu
Xiu was furious, 'thinking it was irritating'. Later, Han Xin 'proved that he was hungry, pointed at the sky and painted the earth, and spoke very harshly', and was eventually dismissed by Emperor Guangwu. However, even so, Emperor Guangwu still felt that he could not let go, so
He also sent people to catch up with him and put him to death."
Zhang Cheng frowned and said, "Then why does the emperor mention this matter?"
Wang Xijue did not answer, but said: "The factory supervisor might as well hear the cause of death of the next two people."
"Okay, okay, Mr. Wang Ge, please speak."
Wang Xijue was not polite and continued: "After Han Xin's death, the great Confucian Ouyang She was named the Great Situ. Ouyang She was the master of Confucianism at that time. The "Book of Secretaries" was passed down from generation to generation, and his disciples and disciples were all over the world. However, the good times did not last long, and Ouyang She
The problem was soon discovered, and "Zang Zang, who was sitting in Runan, was found guilty of more than 10,000 yuan and was imprisoned." It turned out that Ouyang She, when he was the prefect of Runan, did not pay the right amount of land, and also collected more than 10,000,000 yuan in dirty money.
When Ouyang She was imprisoned, it was so lively in front of the palace. Thousands of people gathered every day to petition the emperor for the release of Teacher Ouyang. Some of them even offered to die for Teacher Ouyang. These students gathered in front of the palace every day.
He begged hard, but in the end Emperor Guangwu still refused to show mercy, and Ouyang She still died in prison. At the same time, Yin Zhang and more than ten people from other counties in Henan Province all sat down to farm and did not do what they wanted, and they were also imprisoned and died."
Zhang Cheng frowned and glanced at Shen Shixing. Seeing Shen Shixing's face was calm, knowing that Wang Xijue was telling the truth, he couldn't help but moved his butt unnaturally and said, "So, where is the third one?"
"After Ouyang She's death, Dai She, the Marquis of Guannei, was granted the title of Grand Situ. Dai She was better off than his two predecessors because he had been prime minister for nearly three years, while the previous two, Han Xin, had served for less than two years.
Ouyang She had been there for nearly ten months. However, three years later, Dai She was finally unavoidable. According to historical records, "Da Situ Dai She was imprisoned for stealing money by the people he recommended." This means that Dai She implicated himself because the people he recommended stole money.
, so that in the end he died in prison."
Zhang Cheng said in astonishment: "This guy... Oh, this great Situ must have died a bitter death, right? He certainly has some responsibility for the people he recommended to steal things, but no matter what, for a dignified prime minister,
It’s unbelievable that this little thing could lead to death, isn’t it?”
Shen Shixing opened his mouth at this time and said: "The emperor not only asked this half of the question, but also the other half!"
Wang Xijue said with a smile: "The reason why Emperor Guangwu didn't kill the heroes was because he was only forty years old when he ascended the throne and became the emperor. He was in the prime of life, so he didn't have to worry about his old ministers getting rich. In addition, his prince Liu Zhuang was very smart.
He is also old, so there is no need to worry about the heir being unable to control the government in the future."
When he said this, he suddenly stopped talking and didn't say anything further. Of course Shen Shixing knew the reason why he kept silent, and even Zhang Cheng came to his senses after being stunned for a while.
Because of Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.
Speaking of which, Zhu Yuanzhang can be regarded as a very individual and characteristic figure in Chinese history. He is open-minded and can take the heroes of the world for his own use, and he has the air of a wise king. But on the other hand, he
He also appeared to be fierce and violent. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he almost killed all the heroes and generals who had followed him on the battlefield.
In fact, many emperors in ancient China had the experience of massacring heroes, but it was indeed very rare for an event as large as the Ming Dynasty, involving a large number of people, and lasting as long as it lasted.
In March of the eighth year of Hongwu, starting with Zhu Yuanzhang's decree to confer the death of Liao Yongzhong, Marquis of Deqing, and continuing until his death, the first batch of founding generals of the Ming Dynasty were almost wiped out in rounds of purges.
In people's minds, all the founding generals of the Ming Dynasty who can be named, except for Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Deng Yu and others who died early, most of them have been ruined. There are even many unofficial histories about Xu Da's death.
Legend has it that his illness worsened and he died suddenly because Zhu Yuanzhang gave him food.
In short, by the time Emperor Jianwen, the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty, came to the throne, among the first batch of founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, the only survivors were Guo Ying, Geng Bingwen and others.
Why did Zhu Yuanzhang do this to the heroes? There has been a theory circulating for many years that Zhu Yuanzhang was petty and jealous, fearing that the heroes and generals who held military power would rebel and usurp the imperial power. In fact, this statement was completely inspired by opera commentary.
The influence of folk literature is not consistent with historical facts.
In fact, at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, drastic reforms were made to the military management system, and a five-army governor's office system was established. They controlled each other but were not subordinate to each other. The Ministry of War had the power to mobilize troops but not to command them. The five-army governor's office had the power to deploy troops.
Without the power to mobilize troops, the entire country's military power was controlled by the emperor alone.
In other words, without Zhu Yuanzhang's military talisman and imperial edict, no military general or the Five Army Governor's Office or the Ministry of War would be able to mobilize a single soldier. The so-called rebellion is pure fantasy, so this statement is simply untenable.
Another common argument is that Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely strict in combating corruption, so most of his heroes had to die because they violated his taboos.
This statement seems to be quite objective, and it is not an unofficial legend. One of the things is this: In June of the 21st year of Hongwu, the 60-year-old Zhu Yuanzhang issued a collection of edicts to military generals across the country, "Martial Officials"
"Da Gao".
This "Wu Chen Da Gao" is very strange. It is not as formal as a court official document. Instead, it is written in colloquial language without any polish. It is very clear and easy to understand.
This is because Zhu Yuanzhang was worried that the generals' cultural level was low and they would not be able to understand the sacred meaning written by the Hanlin Academy and would not be able to serve as a propaganda and warning. Therefore, he came up with an ingenious idea, "I said it bluntly, big and small.
You know, both the wise and the foolish will be spared.”
So what exactly did he say? In his "Wu Chen Da Gao", Zhu Yuanzhang listed in detail the illegal and criminal acts of thirty-two military generals from various places.
Among them are senior generals such as Chang Yuchun's son, Zheng Guogong Chang Mao, as well as grassroots officers such as Baihu and Qianhu of the local guard station. The criminal acts include interference with local government affairs and other overall issues, as well as harsh treatment, cruelty of soldiers and other details.
There are also economic issues such as embezzlement of military pay and rations, as well as style issues such as seizing civilian women, everything is included.
It can indeed be seen from this that in the early days of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the heroes and military generals relied on their power to do evil and trampled on national laws and regulations. The situation was very common and serious, to the point of appalling.
For example, Yongjia Marquis Zhu Liangzu accepted heavy bribes from local tycoons, broke into Panyu County jail in broad daylight, released prisoners, and whipped the county magistrate; Chang Yuchun's son Chang Mao, "greedy for money, killed surrender", drunkenly killed and wounded Beiyuan generals who came to surrender, and almost provoked
Big changes trigger war...
Various other illegal behaviors, such as "wanton corruption and harming the people", "improper payment of official funds", "private service of soldiers", "raping soldiers' families", etc., have reached the level of shocking and endangering the rule, which has also made
The combat effectiveness of the army has seriously declined, soldiers are disengaged, and public resentment is boiling.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! So Zhu Yuanzhang said in the preface of this "Wu Chen Da Gao": "Every morning and evening, I gave endless words of advice", "At my age
It's so big that it makes his mouth dry, he can't hold his breath, and he doesn't wake up" - it's true, because the military officials are still greedy and turn a deaf ear.
Then Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "I am very old, I have seen a lot, I have experienced a lot, and I have suffered a lot since I was a child. I served in the army and suffered with the army. I know these hardships in detail."
This is of course true. He was born in a poor peasant family and fought his way from the lowest level of an ordinary soldier in the Red Scarf Army to an emperor. Naturally, he felt the pain and bitter life of the soldiers and civilians at the bottom. Therefore, he repeatedly exhorted the heroes and generals to be considerate of the people.
He loved his soldiers and obeyed the rules and regulations. His earnest words almost made people cry. Unfortunately, his hard work failed to awaken these stubborn heroes and generals.
Therefore, many scholars in later generations believed that Zhu Yuanzhang showed his vicious features and went on a killing spree as a last resort.
However, this is probably not true, at least not the core reason why he killed the hero.
When Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the death of Li Shanchang, the founding hero of the country, the prince Zhu Biao, who was always known for his benevolence and won the hearts of both the government and the public, once advised Zhu Yuanzhang: The emperor killed too many people indiscriminately, and I am afraid it will harm the harmony.
To put it bluntly, in the Ming Dynasty at that time, except Zhu Biao, there was absolutely no other person who dared to talk to Zhu Yuanzhang like this.
But Zhu Yuanzhang liked his eldest son very much and had the deepest high hopes for him, so he did not blame Zhu Biao. But the next day, Zhu Yuanzhang called Zhu Biao to him and handed him a thorn stick covered with spikes.
Throw it on the ground and ask Zhu Biao to pick it up.
The prince was not a fool, so of course he looked troubled and thought hard about his father's intentions.
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke and said: "I asked you to take the thorn stick, but there are thorns on the thorn stick, and you are afraid of hurting your hand. But if the thorns are removed, you don't have to worry. I said this, don't you still
Do you understand my painstaking efforts? I am killing the heroes now to eliminate hidden dangers for you."
Who would have known that Zhu Yuanzhang waited too long and Zhu Biao died of illness before him. Zhu Yuanzhang, who always insisted on rules and regulations, immediately appointed Zhu Biao's son Zhu Yunwen as the grandson of the emperor. But the young Zhu Yunwen had never practiced government affairs, unlike
The prince already had rich experience in governing the country, and had very deep feelings with his civil and military officials.
Zhu Yuanzhang was afraid that his grandson was too young and lacked prestige and experience to control the world. If something happened, the Ming Dynasty might fall into the hands of others. So he went on a killing spree again to eradicate all potential forces that might endanger the Zhu family dynasty.
.
How can one talk about Taizu so easily? So Wang Xijue kept silent, so Shen Shixing seemed to have not heard of it. After Zhang Cheng thought about it, he immediately coughed lightly and changed the topic to the "main topic".
Zhang Cheng said: "Your Majesty is at his peak in the Spring and Autumn Period. I'm afraid this sentence is just a casual mention, or it just coincides with the first half of the sentence and has no other meaning, right?"
Wang Xijue glanced at him and said calmly: "Is there a heir apparent in the Ming Dynasty today?"
Zhang Cheng was suddenly startled, looked at Wang Xijue, swallowed, and asked: "What do you think Wang Xijue is?"
"As a minister, how dare I guess your Majesty's thoughts?" Although Wang Xijue said this, he picked up the tea cup and took a sip and then said: "By the way, the third son of the emperor is not yet four years old, right?"
Shen Shixing muttered: "I am fifty-six this year, so I don't think I will be able to assist the future Crown Prince."
Wang Xijue smiled and said: "I feel ashamed to say that I am one year older than Yuan Fu."
Zhang Cheng didn't react for a moment and wondered: "What kind of riddle are you two husbands playing?"
Shen Shixing smiled and said: "Judging from the age, if we say that among the important ministers in the court today who may be able to assist the crown prince in the future, I am afraid that Gao Rixin is the only one."
Zhang Cheng finally understood and suddenly said: "Oh, our family knows it! If the prince is young in the future, only Gao Rixin can take care of his life, so... if anyone can endanger the prince, only Gao Rixin
It’s new every day!”
Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue looked at each other, but then said thoughtfully: "However, the emperor mentioned 'killing the three prime ministers', but this issue is a bit... vague."
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