Later, the Second Emperor summoned Zhao Gao privately and asked whether his brothers were really here to assassinate him. Zhao Gao said with ulterior motives: "Then you still need to ask? They came to file a complaint against me first because they wanted to kill me with His Majesty's hand, right?" The Second Emperor said that was the case. He told the truth that his brothers wanted to kill Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao said calmly: "Your Majesty, think about it, if I didn't plan for you in the sand dunes, would you be able to ascend the throne of the emperor?" The second generation said of course not. Zhao Gao continued: "Your brothers are jealous because they did not become emperor. Thanks to my timely arrival today, Your Majesty was able to turn the corner. Think about it: if I die, Shaqiu's plan will be announced to the world, and they They will also work together to redress Fusu's grievances and expose your usurpation of the throne. By then, Your Majesty will be isolated and helpless, and they will swarm to kill him if he is left alone!"
After hearing this, the Second Emperor felt horrified and said very frightenedly: "My dear, I already know your loyalty. Of course they are jealous of you. Not only them, but also the ministers are not convinced. You have to think of a way?" " Zhao Gao had already thought of a way, and took the opportunity to say: "I wanted to say it for a long time, but I just didn't have the chance. Your Majesty, you have not been in power for a long time, and people's hearts have not yet returned. Now you want to establish the prestige of the late emperor. , is it really not easy?" The second generation urged: "Then please tell me, my dear, what should I do to make everyone respect me?" Zhao Gao said: "To change people, you must change people first! What do you want? I thought: The ministers of the late emperor were all nobles of the Qin State, and they all made great contributions to the country. However, I, Zhao Gao, originally came from a humble background. I was lucky enough to be placed in the important position of the late emperor and you, so that I was put in charge of the affairs of the palace. We want to To establish great prestige in the government and the opposition, first change the laws and make them very harsh, then examine all civil servants and generals in accordance with the law, investigate and deal with those who do not do well externally, and punish all those who oppose you internally! What if? If anyone dares to remonstrate with you, arrest them and punish them together. This can establish your prestige in a big way, and it can also get rid of some people who are annoying to you in a small way. Moreover, the current situation cannot follow the example of civil rule, but It is to follow the legal system and govern the country with strict laws and regulations. This is exactly the magic of governing the country advocated by the late emperor! You should assess the situation, act vigorously and resolutely, and establish your own unprecedented achievements. Only in this way can the hegemony passed down to you by the late emperor be stable. In this way, even if someone wants to rebel, they will not dare to act rashly under the deterrence of the wise king; in addition, you must alienate those past princes and ministers, because they are all the people of the late emperor. On the contrary, promote a group of low-status people . These newly promoted people will naturally be grateful to you and will definitely be loyal to His Majesty. Only then will you be able to enjoy yourself as you please." After hearing what Zhao Gao said, the Second Emperor agreed very much, and ordered ten The five imperial brothers were all put into prison cars, and the doctors were asked to change Qin's laws and decrees. They also sent a group of very ruthless cronies to monitor and inspect officials.
As soon as this edict came out, the government and the public were shocked. Seeing that Zhao Gao was outside, he was worried that something might happen, so he advised the second generation to return to Beijing immediately. It was already April, and more than ten days later, they arrived in Du County, Guanzhong. That night, the second generation led the civil and military forces to the city and stayed at the county government office. The people who inspected the officials killed Magistrate Du because he did not greet him well. To show the emperor's majesty, they also hung his head on the city gate for the officials to see. As a result, local officials were extremely frightened. This day happens to be the 15th of this month. After dark, a bright moon rises slowly. Zhao Gao arranged for the second generation to sit in the palace, drink, dance and admire the moon, and secretly sent people to monitor the movements of the princes.
It turned out that Zhao Gao had arranged for the princes to have dinner in the garden behind the county government office. They lived in a simple side room, and there were sergeants guarding the door. Zhao Gao thought: If we don't start here, it will be difficult to do it when we return to the capital. So he first sent someone to arrange a banquet for them, and also prepared some skilled piano players. When the moon went over Dongshan, the fifteen young masters sat around a big stone table next to the rockery, feeling sad about the moon, listening to music and drinking wine. The general was afraid that Zhao Gao would send eyes and ears, so he advised everyone to just drink and not talk about anything else. At this time, the breeze came slowly, and the trees in the garden rustled. The violinist plucked the strings, and the sound was ups and downs, like weeping. The buddies encouraged each other to drink. Unconsciously, they felt so sad that the more they drank, the more uncomfortable they became. At this time, Jiang Lu couldn't help but pick up the jade flute and start playing it. The sound of the flute and the sound of the piano merged together, which was really sad and miserable. After drinking like this for half the night, the princes were already drunk, so they began to vent their anger carelessly.
Someone had already reported it to Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao said to the Second Emperor in the hall: "Your Majesty, I feel sorry for your brothers and arranged a banquet for them in private. But I never expected that they are now discussing the matter of rebellion!" The Second Emperor heard this. , was suddenly shocked, and still didn’t believe this happened. Zhao Gao asked the Second Emperor to see it in person. The second generation and Zhao Gao came to the gate of the garden. Eavesdropping carefully from the outside, I only heard the people inside singing together:
I drink wine and watch the sun and the moon change. I cry like a thread when thinking about my father and brother. If you like to cultivate yourself, you will be trapped, if you hate party members, you will have trouble swallowing the wine. How to stop Tsuen Bu Cha Xi? Although I understand, my will has not changed.
The Second Emperor asked: "What does the song mean?" Zhao Gaodao said: "The song is accusing His Majesty, saying that you are a stupid and incompetent tyrant, and they will fight to the death to avenge Fusu!" When listening again, someone suddenly Said: "The traitor Zhao Gao is a traitor who has brought disaster to the country and the people! The emperor is young and ignorant. When we return to Xianyang, we will tell all the queens the truth and invite them to come to the palace together to advise your majesty to get rid of the traitor and replace him. Brother, redress the injustice..." The second son heard this very clearly and was shocked: "They are indeed planning to rebel. Send troops to arrest them all quickly and kill them tomorrow to eliminate future troubles!" After saying this, he said angrily gone. Zhao Gao led the soldiers and immediately rushed into the garden, tied up all the princes, and took them to Duxian Prison.
The next day, the Second Emperor ordered Zhao Gao to escort the princes to the city to be beheaded by Cao, and then he drove back to the capital. When the ministers heard about this, they came to admonish him one after another. First, Gao Xian, the lieutenant-general, burst into tears and remonstrated. He stopped the driver and said with full of grief and anger: "Your Majesty, I heard that a minister cannot be considered a loyal minister if he refuses to die for remonstrance! You now believe one side of the story and want to kill your brother. This is a loss of humanity." I beg your Majesty to immediately take back your holy orders and pardon all the princes?" The Second Emperor said angrily: "First they committed assassination, and now they are plotting rebellion. I have seen this with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. How dare you? To dissuade you? Are you also an accomplice?" Gao Xian's face was full of fear, and he said righteously: "I don't believe that they will conspire against me, let alone being accomplices. As the saying goes, 'loyal words are harsh to the ears, but good to the deeds, and good medicine is bitter to the mouth. Sickness.' If your majesty kills them, it will be called fratricide. Only the kings of Jie and Zhou can do this! How can you do this? If your majesty does not listen to the advice of my ministers today, I am afraid the country will not be able to do it. Peaceful days!" When the Second Emperor saw Gao Xian comparing him to Jie and Zhou, he was naturally furious and ordered the warriors to capture Gao Xian immediately. Seeing this, Gao Xian cursed Zhao Gaohe II as a treacherous minister and a coward. Then he broke away from the warrior and ran towards the steps, breaking his head and dying on the spot. One poem sighed:
Will the country perish if all its loyal subjects are killed? It should be combined with Chen She’s prescription.
Being honest and admonishing one's face is considered outstanding, and one's reputation will last forever.
After the death of the middle man, the outer man Song Qing came to stop the driver again and said: "Gao Xian is a loyal minister and martyr by remonstrating with death. I risk my life and ask your majesty to immediately pardon all the kings and brothers, and then bury Gao Xian with solemn etiquette. If not, From now on, no one will dare to give any advice. Your Majesty, please think twice!" The Second Emperor ignored Song Qing. At this time, Sanlang Peng Mi also rushed forward. He angrily drew out a soldier's sword, put the sword on his own neck, and shouted loudly: "Today, Your Majesty did not listen to our advice. I will die here first!" When the second generation saw someone threatening death, he was furious and said: "Then you will die in front of me? I won't listen to you crazy people!" Peng Mi was extremely angry and stared at it with his eyes wide open. II. The second generation laughed and said: "What? You don't have the guts, do you? Haha, are you going to die in front of me?" Peng Mi was so angry that he pointed his sword at the second generation and yelled: "Ignorant fool, you didn't listen. Are you talking about the outcome of King Zhou killing Bigan? Why should I regret my death? But from now on, the great Qin foundation founded by the late emperor will be destroyed in the hands of you, a foolish king! You, a tyrant who kills innocent people indiscriminately, will never end well for you!" After scolding him, he cut his throat and died. When Song Qing saw that Peng Mi was dead, he picked up the sword in Peng Mi's hand and committed suicide. There are poems praising Song Qing and Peng Mi:
He stopped and admonished the king for his loyalty and righteousness, and Peng Mi of Song Dynasty passed down his famous name.
He fought to the death to protect the ancestral temple, but he was also the one who had a disembowelment.
Right Prime Minister Feng Quji also came to remonstrate with all his strength. When he saw the purity in front of him, he said angrily: "Your Majesty, I want to kill your brothers without trial. The people of the world are not convinced! This is stupid!" Prime Minister Zuo Li Si also came to admonish: "Your Majesty, if we kill them first before the matter is investigated clearly, we will die without proof. If the princes did not rebel, it will be an unjust case!" The other ministers also knelt in front of the car and wept and admonished. Seeing that the public was angry and hard to offend, the Second Emperor had no choice but to keep the second, third, and fifth brothers and bring them back to Xianyang for interrogation, and beheaded the rest on the spot. If there are any more objections, they will be killed on the spot without mercy.
The twelve princes were taken to the market by Zhao Gao and executed. What was even more tragic was that their bodies were exposed in the wild. After the second emperor's car left, the people of Du County buried the remains hastily, which was so miserable.
