Cheng Chumo pondered the contents of the appeal, especially the part that accused the prince of "poisoning the late emperor", and he immediately fell into confusion...
His Majesty faked his death during the Eastern Expedition, triggering a series of extremely bad consequences for Guanlong's uprising of troops. Many people speculated that this was a desperate plan by His Majesty to confuse Changsun Wuji and make him unscrupulous and raise his troops brazenly, thereby achieving the abolition of With the purpose of being crown prince, he then returned to Guanzhong with his army to defeat the Guanlong army in one fell swoop and completely eradicate the cancer entrenched in the center, making the imperial power truly exclusive.
It can be said that killing two birds with one stone.
But now according to the statement in the King of Jin's letter, the prince was worried that his throne would be dethroned and took the risk to bribe Chu Suiliang to poison the late emperor. However, when Chu Suiliang's good deeds came to an end, his conscience found out, he took the initiative to confess to the late emperor and received the late emperor's forgiveness, and then the late emperor decided to fake his death, confusing Changsun Wuji made him raise an army to depose the crown prince.
After going through the "Xuanwumen Incident", although few emperors in the past have achieved such magnificent achievements after ascending the throne, the troubles of killing his brothers and forcing his father to abdicate have been lingering on His Majesty Li Er for many years and have not weakened in the slightest. They are despised and disgusted, and they have to bear the heart-breaking condemnation of their conscience. They are frightened every night and have trouble sleeping.
Therefore, after he ascended the throne, he spared no effort in educating his children. "Father is kind and son is filial, brother, friend and brother are respectful" are his achievements in flaunting the world, and he has made his identity as a loving father impeccable - if he had to abolish the throne by himself Prince, this father-son relationship that has been built for many years will collapse.
Knowing that Guan Long was disloyal but pretending not to know it, he went along with the flow to confuse Guan Long's family members, and used Changsun Wuji's hand to achieve the purpose of killing the prince so that his hands would not be stained with the prince's blood. It is completely reasonable and reasonable...
So, what is the truth?
Cheng Yaojin grabbed the tea cup and took a sip. He didn't care that the cup had just been used by his son. He stroked his beard and said, "Why, I'm wondering what the truth is. Who plotted to murder the late emperor in the Liaodong Army?"
Cheng Chumo nodded and sat opposite his father.
Cheng Yaojin thought about it and felt that his silly sons were all a bit stubborn. Once they knew what was right and wrong in everything, it would be difficult to look back. This would easily lead to big losses, so he patiently taught him: "Then have you ever thought about what happened back then?" What is the truth behind the 'Xuanwu Gate Incident'?"
Cheng Chumo was stunned. Could it be that Li Jiancheng felt that his brother was too much of a threat, so he pressed forward step by step, forcing everyone in the Tiance Mansion to have no choice but to fight and usurp it if they didn't want to destroy the family?
But if everyone knows this, why should my father ask questions even though he knows it?
Obviously there are other reasons...
Thinking about it carefully, he said in a trembling voice: "Could my father mean that the so-called ferocious persecution by Li Jiancheng back then was actually a lie? The late emperor led my father and you generals of the Tiance Mansion to rebel..."
"fart!"
Cheng Yaojin puffed his beard and glared, extremely dissatisfied with his son's low political talent: "As a father, I want to tell you that the world is never black and white, either this or that, and things are often mixed, right and wrong. It is difficult to judge that when the Tang Dynasty was founded, half of the world was conquered by the late emperor and our generals from Tiance Mansion. Especially when the late emperor defeated Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass from 3,000 to 100,000, they were almost defeated in one battle. Ding Tianxia, his prestige shook all the states, and was enough to compete with Li Jiancheng. How could Li Jiancheng remain indifferent in the face of the late emperor's aggressive power? Suppression and persecution are inevitable. But do you think that the late emperor chose to give in step by step in the face of Li Jiancheng's suppression? How much is passive and how much is active? On the eve of the Battle of Xuanwu Gate, almost the entire world sympathized with the late emperor. Do you think this is a coincidence?"
Cheng Chumo suddenly realized that the late emperor was so wise and powerful that he seemed to have no resistance and had to give in step by step under the pressure of Li Jiancheng. In fact, it was a strategic retreat in order to gain time and gain the sympathy of all parties in the world until he could no longer retreat. Retreat, or perhaps when the time is right, they turn back and attack, and the Xuanwu Sect succeeds in the next battle.
At that time, people all over the world said that Li Jiancheng was aggressive and too bullying. The late emperor retreated and was kind and righteous. He did not fight back until he could no longer bear it... But how much of this was done intentionally by the late emperor, and he even actively provoked Li Jiancheng into a deep sense of crisis that he could not extricate himself from. Being led by the nose by the late emperor?
So, who is right? Who is wrong? Who is the righteous party?
Only the winner is right and will always be righteous. The loser has decayed into the dust with the grass and trees and has no right to speak...
Cheng Yaojin finally concluded: "In the turbulent political field, you can't even distinguish right from wrong. Who can you sympathize with? So put away your thoughts about good and evil, right and wrong, and always act in your own interests." Set out, maintain your own status, and strengthen your own interests, so that you can never make mistakes."
Why did he open the gates of Chang'an and sit back and watch the battle for the inheritance?
The feudal world is indeed a great temptation, but it is not enough to make him risk his family's future, personal honor and disgrace, and risk his life and death for the king of Jin. What he wants is not the icing on the cake, but the help in times of need, so as to ensure that the smallest Loss and minimum risk to gain maximum benefits.
This has always been his way of life.
When he was young, he was in troubled times. Unwilling to be mediocre, he broke down his family and business and pulled up a team to keep up with the heroes. When he was majestic, he attached himself to the command of His Majesty Li Er. In the end, he fought with a knife and a gun and was wounded all over. With such a family fortune, why take any risks?
No matter how tempting the benefits are, the risks must be equal.
Cheng Chumo scratched his head, looking at his father with eyes that were inevitably a bit disdainful. For the second generation of nobles like them, it was okay to eat, drink, have fun and fight with eagles and dogs. However, they had lived under the heroic and glorious legends of their fathers since childhood. An arrogant person who considers himself a king?
Now I suddenly find that my heroic father is just like those "official bugs" that I usually look down on. He is always scrupulous about spending every penny he spends, and even his thoughts and methods are really inferior. It is inevitable to feel a sense of sadness and confusion that his faith has collapsed...
And Cheng Yaojin seemed to be stimulated by his son's contemptuous eyes, and he became angry and shouted: "What kind of eyes do you have? Mother, I want to teach you a lesson and let you know that Lord Ma has three eyes..." "
When Cheng Chumo was trembling with fear, Niu Jinda strode in with a clanging armor and a storm on his face. He looked anxious and said loudly: "Commander, what should I do now?"
It was only after he retreated to the vicinity of the West Market that he learned that Youhouwei had entered the city from Chunming Gate and was fighting fiercely with the Sixth Army of the East Palace outside the palace city. The sudden deterioration of the situation made him worried.
This is rebellion!
Before the bones of the late emperor were cold, and his body was still in the Taiji Palace, his sons started fighting for the throne, and even put the entire city of Chang'an under the flames of war. How amazing is this?
Cheng Yaojin let his son go, waved his hand to Niu Jinda, and said casually: "Don't be impatient, it's just the sons of the late emperor fighting for the family property. As ministers, it's not easy for us to intervene, and we should stay put and watch the situation change before making any calculations." .”
Niu Jinda was stunned, but he obeyed Cheng Yaojin's advice. Although he sat down angrily and disagreed in his heart, he didn't say much.
As long as Cheng Yaojin does not lead him to rebel against His Majesty Li Er, the rest does not matter, whether it is murder and arson, swords and mountains of fire, just let it be...
*****
In a courtyard not far from Wude Hall, Cen Wenwen smiled and looked at Liu Ji who was sitting opposite and sighed. He raised his hand to pour tea for him and said with a smile: "Although this tea has the true taste of the world, it is not suitable to drink on an empty stomach. Liu Shizhong has already drank two pots of tea, and the fire in his abdomen has disappeared, so it would be better to have some cakes."
Liu Ji held the tea cup in his hand and rolled his eyes, and said angrily: "You are now in poor health and suffering from diseases. You have long thought of retreating from the rapids. You have not only asked the late emperor for an official position once or twice, so you have no desires and no demands." In an age where destiny is yet to be known, I have not yet taken up my position as a waiter. Suddenly, something unexpected happens, but I can only stay out of it. How can I live in peace and calm? Don't laugh at me. If someone else is around, I'm afraid it will become more and more difficult. Even tea is not available. I can’t drink it.”
As he spoke, he drank all the tea in the cup. Sure enough, he felt a discomfort in his stomach, so he picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, chewed it a few times, and sighed again.
Now that the King of Jin is approaching the city, the two sides are fighting bloody battles outside the Taiji Palace. The prince must summon his trusted officials to dispatch troops, arrange troops, and prepare for the "big funeral" after dawn. However, he has been excluded and cannot enter the East Palace at all. 's inner circle.
The King of Jin was commanding the right Houwei to attack the Taiji Palace outside the city. Even if he, Liu Jie, wanted to recommend himself, he would have to get a pair of wings and fly out of the war-torn Chang'an City...
Neither being accepted by the prince nor being able to participate in King Jin's uprising, it is conceivable that no matter who ascends the throne after the war, he will not be regarded as a confidant.
However, the position of Shizhong, as the highest official of the province, is responsible for the approval of government orders and the review of edicts. If there are any deficiencies in the edicts, he has the right to correct them and then reject them... This seems to be a huge power, but it is naturally inconsistent with the imperial power. On the contrary, if the servant is the emperor's confidant, they can discuss it easily. Even rejecting the edict will show the emperor's humility and generosity in accepting advice. However, if the servant is not the emperor's own, then rejecting the emperor's edict will be a slap in the face of the emperor. s face.
However, if one takes the emperor's edict as a standard and does not refute it, he will be regarded as a flatterer by the world. If he only flatters the emperor and ignores whether the edict is reasonable or not, those imperial officials will gather together to impeach him, and it will spread among the towns. His reputation as "treacherous and sycophantic"...
Liu Jie was naturally very sad, thinking about things from left to right, and his future was bleak.
It means you are worried when you advance, and you are also worried when you retreat...
Cen Wenwen didn't see it that way. He gave an idea: "Have you read the message of King Jin that is circulating in the palace? This is an opportunity. If you are loyal to the prince, go out from here and yell at those who are whispering, affirming that the prince has ascended the throne. If you are righteous, the prince will definitely look up to you and regard you as his confidant; if you are inclined to the Jin Dynasty, you will also stand up and declare that in order to appease the people of the world, the prince should cancel the reading of the memorial on the 'big coffin' and accept the worship of hundreds of officials, and then There is a temporary truce with the King of Jin, and the three-law tribunal will examine the document, which mentions the crimes of "poisoning the late emperor" and "torture of brothers and sisters", delaying the crown prince's ascension to the throne. The King of Jin must be overjoyed. Why do you worry about not having a position under the King of Jin? "
Liu Jie looked at Cen Wenwen with a resentful look in his eyes, and said helplessly: "I don't know when I will offend you, do you have to look at my head to be happy?"
Cen Wenwen said with a smile: "You are in the middle of the game and can't see the situation clearly."
Liu Jie hurriedly said: "I would like to hear the details."
