Liu Xin ignored the three people who knelt down and begged for mercy, but pointed at Cao Cao and Yuan Shao and said: "You two are officials, you have lived in Han Dynasty for a long time, but you don't want to serve the imperial court, but you have committed this act of treason.
Do you know your sin now?"
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had been locked up in a dark prison for more than a month. They were pale, unkempt, and very embarrassed. However, Yuan Shao still acted like a son of his fourth generation and third son, raised his head, and said disdainfully
: "The winner is a prince and the loser is a bandit. What is Yuan's crime?"
Although Liu Xin was a fake Han clan member, his surname was a legitimate one. He didn't think there was anything wrong with him taking the position of emperor, and immediately said boldly: "This world belongs to our old Liu family, and we are the ones who rule the world."
It can't be the Yuan family, nor can it be the Cao family. Now I'm just protecting the Liu family, what does it have to do with becoming a king and defeating bandits? You and Cao Cao are causing trouble in the world and intending to rebel. How dare you say that you are not guilty?
?"
Cao Cao sneered at the side and said: "There are so many members of the Han clan, why is it your turn to sit here? Aren't I and the people who helped protect me from the old Liu family not from the old Liu family? If Cao is guilty, you Liu
It’s hard for Xin to stay out of it!”
Liu Xin waved her hand and said: "Cao Cao, you don't have to quibble. Maybe at the beginning of Dong Zhuo's chaos, you and Yuan Shao had the ideal of helping the Han Dynasty, but as the power in your hands grew stronger, you dare to say that you
Are you really not ambitious?"[
"This..." Cao Cao was suddenly speechless.
Yuan Shao shook his head and said: "Meng De, we have fallen into his hands. He is right no matter what, so why bother talking to him? If you want to kill or behead us, let him do it."
Cao Cao sighed and said: "Liu Xin, even if Cao is in this situation, he doesn't dare to blame others. I just hope you can treat my family well."
Liu Xin laughed and said: "When the nest is overturned, there are no intact eggs. Haven't Meng De heard of this sentence? If it were me who was tied down today, I'm afraid Meng De would also make a move to eradicate the weeds.
Yes. However, I have always been magnanimous, so today I will be lenient and spare them their lives, but they will not escape their punishment."
This sentence was actually said by Kong Rong's two young sons when Cao Cao killed Kong Rong in history. Of course Cao Cao doesn't know it now. But Cao Cao understands the principle of eradicating the roots very well, and Cao Cao has never been a soft-hearted person.
Hearing what Liu Xin said, he looked up to the sky and laughed, and said: "Okay! Please give Cao a sharp sword and let Cao kill himself to thank the world!"
Liu Xin snorted coldly and said: "You two have committed a heinous crime and should have been executed at Lingchi. Now it is changed to beheading. It is already a great grace. Do you still want to be greedy? Come on! Behead Cao Cao and Yuan Shao on the same level."
, presented to the front of the palace!”
Some bodyguards had already come forward, pushed Cao Cao and Yuan Shao to the ground, dragged them to the steps of the main hall, cut off their heads with a knife, and sent them into the hall.
Liu Xin then said to Liu Biao and Liu Ye: "You two are also clan members of the Han Dynasty. Why are you becoming thieves?"
Liu Ye wanted to clasp his fists and salute, but found that his hands were tied behind his back, so he had to twist his body and said: "Return to your majesty, I know I was wrong!"
Liu Biao shook his head and sighed: "Your Majesty, I...oh, no, Weichen was forced by Yuan Shao and couldn't help himself. In fact, Weichen..."
Liu Xin waved her hand, interrupted him and said: "Liu Biao, since you are a clan member of the Han Dynasty, I will leave you some dignity. You can drink poison and commit suicide."
Liu Biao didn't expect that Liu Xin would take his life even though he knew he was a clan member of the Han Dynasty. His originally pale face suddenly turned red. At this time, two personal guards had already stepped forward and held out a cup of poison.
Liu Biao refused to take the wine.
Liu Xin said angrily: "In that case, let's drink it to him with me!"
Liu Biao did not take the initiative to be the pseudo-emperor. He was forced to be promoted by Yuan Shao. Strictly speaking, he was also a victim. Although Liu Xin knew this very well, since Liu Biao had already served as emperor, it was inevitable in his heart that he would not be the emperor.
There would still be a trace of ambition. Even if Liu Biao himself had surrendered, would his two sons be content with themselves when they grow up? Liu Xin was not sure about these questions. To develop, the Han Dynasty must maintain stability.
, he can only nip it in the bud.
Liu Ye watched helplessly as Liu Biao was forced to drink poisonous wine by two of his guards. He became poisonous and rolled on the ground howling miserably. He couldn't help but feel palpitations in his heart and said miserably: "Your Majesty, please give me three feet of white silk, Weichen."
…”
Liu Xin waved her hand and said: "You can correct your mistakes and do good. Ziyang, I heard that you designed the thunderbolt chariot used by Cao Cao's army. If you truly repent, I will give you a chance to repent.
"
Liu Ye couldn't believe his ears and asked repeatedly: "Your Majesty, do you want to spare the minister?"
Liu Xin nodded and said: "Yes, you are the darling of our Liu family. We need talents like you here. Are you willing to work in the Ministry of Industry?"
Liu Ye was overjoyed and said: "Wei Chen has long heard that the Ministry of Works of the Han Dynasty has many wonderful and ingenious things. If Wei Chen can be allowed to go to the Ministry of Works, Wei Chen will be happy." [
Xu You, Feng Ji and Chen Qun, who were kneeling on the ground over there, heard that Liu Xin had pardoned Liu Ye. They immediately saw hope and shouted: "Your Majesty, I am willing to change my ways, and I beg your Majesty for your forgiveness..."
But Liu Xin waved his hand and said: "Although you were each your own master at that time, for me and the whole Han Dynasty, you were helping the evildoers to do harm. How can I spare you lightly? Humph, someone, come and kill them."
Behead them all!”
/
The reason why Liu Ye was able to stay was not because he was a clan member of the Han Dynasty, but because Liu Xin lacked neither civil servants nor military generals, but people like Ma Jun and Liu Ye who understood certain mechanical principles. As for
Xu You and the others, regardless of their character, even if they are full of knowledge, there is not much use in keeping them. If Liu Xin had to choose among these people, he would rather keep Shen Pei, Xia Hou, and Xia Houyuan brothers, but Liu Xin
Knowing that these people would not surrender easily, he did not even think about persuading them.
Just when the guards were about to pull out the kneeling and standing old ministers of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, a guard suddenly walked in, raised his hand towards Liu Xin and said: "Your Majesty, the Queen has sent someone here
, saying that I have something important to inform His Majesty."
Liu Xin had already discussed with Ma Yun how to deal with these prisoners in advance. Now she suddenly said that she had something important to do. Liu Xin couldn't help but be surprised. She quickly waved her hand and asked the guards who were about to execute them to step aside. Then she turned and walked out of the Ancestral Temple.
.
Outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it was Guo Zhao, the maid next to Ma Yun, who came. Seeing Liu Xin coming out, Guo Zhao bowed and saluted: "I have seen your Majesty. The Queen ordered me to come here and please spare the life of General Xia Houyuan."
Liu Xin asked curiously: "What does this mean?"
Guo Zhao presented a letter and said, "Your Majesty has said so, and you will know after just one look."
Liu Xin picked up the letter and read it hastily, frowned and thought for a moment, waved her hand and said, "You go back first, I already know."
Taking the letter, Liu Xin returned to the hall, nodded and asked: "Xia Houyuan, I heard that your family was poor back then, and you abandoned your young son to raise a niece. Is this true?"
Xia Houyuan glanced at Liu Xin and said coldly: "What does this have to do with you?"
"Of course this is none of my business." Liu Xin waved her hand and said, "However, your niece has begged the queen and is willing to die for you."
Xia Houyuan hurriedly said: "No! How can a certain person harm a weak woman when he is responsible for all the work? In order to help his lord train soldiers, a certain person left without saying goodbye. In the past ten years, there has been no news about Juan'er, but he did not expect that she is here.
I'm asking for nothing else, but I hope I can see Juan'er again before I leave. I'd be very grateful!"
Before Liu Xin could speak, Zhang Fei had already jumped out and shouted with a voice as loud as thunder: "So you are Juan'er's uncle! You raised Juan'er back then. I, Lao Zhang, owe you a favor.
I'll beg my brother for mercy and spare your life!"
"Yide, please step aside." Liu Xin waved his hand and said, "Xia Houyuan, you still don't know that your niece is now my sworn brother's wife, with children around her knees and a happy life. You, as an uncle, also
You should feel relieved."
Xia Houyuan let out a long breath and said solemnly: "Well, I don't want to see Juan'er anymore, so you can do it now."
Liu Xin smiled and said, "However, I admire your righteous deed very much, so I changed my mind and decided to pardon you and not let your niece take the blame for you."
Xia Houyuan shook his head and said: "I and my brother are assisting the lord together. Now that the army is defeated, how can I live alone!"
The fine prisoner presentation ceremony suddenly went sideways, and Liu Xin couldn't help but frown. If Xia Houyuan was pardoned because of Xia Houjuan, it wouldn't be a big deal. But if Xia Hou was also pardoned, Liu Xin would have to think carefully about it.
.Not to mention anything else, Xiahou's eye was blinded by Liu Xin. There is no guarantee that Xiahou will not hold a grudge.
It's funny to say that after Cao Xing's death, Liu Xin was still thinking that this could change the fate of Xiahou's one-eyed dragon. Who knew that fate would play a trick on people, and Xiahou eventually turned into a one-eyed dragon, and was injured by his hands.
Suddenly I heard Zhang Fei say: "Brother, it's not a big deal even if these two brothers are pardoned. If they dare to rebel, the Zhangba Snake Spear in my hand will not let them go! If I kill Xia Houyuan, I won't be like Juan'er when I go back
Explain."
Liu Xin couldn't help but shook her head and smiled bitterly. Zhang Fei had a rough personality. How could he understand Xia Houjuan's difficulties? Xia Houjuan did not tell Zhang Fei about this matter and asked Zhang Fei to beg Liu Xin. Instead, he went to beg Ma Yun himself because he did not want to involve Zhang Fei.
Go in.[
Seeing Liu Xin's silence, Zhang Fei became a little anxious and said loudly: "If it doesn't work, then take out my death-free gold medal and exchange for Xia Hou's life. In this way, Xia Houyuan will be too embarrassed to just ask for death."