The inclusion of "Political Lectures" and "Economic Theory" in the imperial examination caused an uproar in Xianyang, and the difficulty of purchasing the two books also attracted rounds of abuse.
A small number of people knew that Gaofu had two books, but Gaofu kept it secret and had no choice. Chang'an Township made it clear that if the two books were banned, selling them would be prohibited, and they did not dare to do prohibited things.
This moment made everyone anxious.
The second book was produced in Chang'an Township. Now Chang'an Township does not do prohibited things, so how do they obtain the second book and prepare for the next imperial examination.
As a result, the matter became a fuss and soon spread throughout Xianyang.
At the same time, some people thought of Shusun Tong and said that he had banned the second book and it was he who had harmed everyone.
Shusun Tong had some status in the eyes of his students. After hearing such rumors, he immediately clarified that he was just carrying out the emperor's order and had no choice but to ban the two books.
These words involved the emperor's orders, and no one dared to speak anymore. They could only complain in their hearts, but there was still a censor who had a strong sense of justice and made some remarks.
Zhangtai Palace.
Feng Quji came in a hurry, looking very anxious.
"Your Majesty, it's not good, it's not good."
Ying Zheng, who was reviewing the memorial, suddenly heard this voice and frowned.
After the imperial examination, Xianyang was much quieter, and nothing important happened. It was rare for him to live a peaceful life for a few days, and Feng Quji was making noise again.
But he was diligent and did not neglect his duties, and quickly asked Feng to explain in detail.
"Your Majesty, the students are making trouble again now."
"Are you making trouble again?" Ying Zhengsu stood up from the throne, a little displeased. The last time he made trouble about Li Zhaohe Er Shu, he was a little bothered. Now he is here again. These students are full of food. Nothing to do.
"Troublemakers can be caught as long as they are caught, and there is no need to report them to me."
He didn't want to be bothered by these things anymore.
"Your Majesty, isn't this bad?" Feng Quji hesitated.
"Anyone who disturbs my court will be killed. What's wrong with that?" Ying Zheng grimaced. After thinking about it, he still asked why he was making trouble.
Feng Quji sorted out his thoughts and reported back: "Your Majesty, all students know that the imperial examination questions come from the Er Shu, so they searched everywhere for the book, but there was no trace of the Er Shu in Xianyang, so they had no choice but to complain. If they complained too much, they would It caused some people to follow suit, and that's when troublesome things happened."
"Oh, there is another matter?" Ying Zheng understood. "What kind of big deal can this be? The second book was written by Li Zhao. Can't this matter be solved by asking Li Zhao to print more?"
Since the second book came out, such a strange production caused a sensation, and the emperor naturally heard about it, but the printing technology was not leaked, so he naturally heard the news but not the skill.
Ying Zheng was not very concerned about this matter.
But Feng Quji was in a dilemma. He didn't know how to respond, and his eyes kept looking at Ying Zheng.
"If you have something to say, just say it. What's the point of hesitating?" Ying Zheng scolded him.
"No!" Feng Quji organized his words, but still seemed hesitant, "Your Majesty, do you still remember what happened before? The second book has been banned."
"What?" Ying Zheng suddenly turned his head, looked deeply at Feng Quji, and thought for a while before he remembered this matter.
Indeed, this matter really happened. At that time, he asked Shusun Tong to deal with it, but he actually banned the second book. He didn't take it to heart at the time, but after learning about Li Zhao's good intentions, the matter became difficult.
It's just two books that have been banned. He can unblock them with just one decree, but he can't do that for the time being.
If he did this, it would only chill Li Zhao's heart.
Li Zhao worked so hard to produce the Second Book just to train students all over the world, but the students all over the world did not appreciate it and encouraged the ban of the Second Book. The court actually did this, but now that the Second Book is useful, they have to lift the ban and ask for the contribution of the Second Book.
In other words, they kill when they are not needed, and they are ordered to make sacrifices for everyone when they are needed. However, no individual will feel comfortable when encountering such a thing.
The same must be true for Li Zhao.
"Damn Shusun Tong, he fails more than he succeeds."
"Also, there are rumors that someone asked Shusun Tong why he wanted to ban the second book. Shusun Tong said it was His Majesty's order and he did not dare to disobey it."
When Feng Quji saw His Majesty mentioning Shusun Tong, he immediately said so.
"He actually said that?" Ying Zheng was so angry that he punched the document, "What a cunning person. Li Zhao was right."
At this moment, he had murderous intentions towards Shusun Tong, but he quickly suppressed it. In order to appease Li Zhao's heart, Shusun Tong could not die yet. This was also the reason why he did not kill Shusun Tong last time.
And... thinking about Tie Ying's report, his face became extremely gloomy.
"Uncle grandson..." He was about to speak. At this time, the waiter reported that there was an audience with the imperial censor.
"Censor, it must be about the Second Book! Whatever! Let him in."
Ying Zheng waved his hand and the waiter went to greet him.
After the censor came to see him, he immediately gave his advice.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the ban on the two books was His Majesty's decree. At this moment, the students are complaining because they have no books to read. I sincerely request that the ban be lifted."
"Unblock?" Ying Zheng's sharp gaze fell on the censor, which shocked the censor, but he was a righteous man, and he was prepared to die when he came to see him.
"Exactly, now only Chang'an Township can have Ershu, but Ershu is banned. They dare not do anything illegal. Only His Majesty's order to unblock them can solve all this."
"Do you know who was responsible for banning the two books?" Ying Zheng stared at the censor.
The censor said seriously: "I was waiting for Dr. Shusun Tong to be ordered to do it, but Shusun Tong did it according to the will. It was really a last resort."
He told what he had heard.
Ying Zheng was furious when he heard this, "Fart, I ordered him to deal with the students' troubles, but I didn't let him ban the two books."
"Oh!" The censor heard this and did not dare to say anything more.
He did not dare to question the emperor's words, but he felt very uncomfortable. He thought: Since you have issued the decree, others will definitely do it according to their own methods. Can you blame them for banning the second book? It's not your fault.
But he didn't dare to say it.
Ying Zheng ignored him, waved to Shang Xin, and said sternly: "Xuan Shusun Tong enters the palace."
"No!" Shang Xin went.
"Your Majesty." Feng Quji saw that Shang Xin had gone far away, so he approached Ying Zheng and asked puzzledly: "Shusun Tong made such a big mistake and wronged Your Majesty, why don't you directly ask questions?"
"Asking directly? Hmph! It will only give him an advantage." Ying Zheng glared sharply, his eyes seemed to be erupting with flames, "Do you know who is responsible for burning the classics in the eastern suburbs?"
Since he heard Li Zhao's voice, he immediately sent Heibingtai to investigate. The results of the investigation made him even more furious.
When Shusun Tong went to Chang'an Township and saw Chunyu Yue being blocked, he felt extremely resentful, so he secretly ordered people to burn classics in the eastern suburbs to attract students, and even instigated people to point the finger at Li Zhao, and what happened next happened.
There was also Shu Sunli, who was also his instigator, which led to everyone's misunderstanding of Li Zhao getting deeper and deeper, which made him angry with Li Zhao and allowed Shu Sun Tong to handle the bookstall matter.
During this process, Li Zhao actually didn't do anything, so he became the one who was taken advantage of and was even banned.
When he thought about this, he became very angry and felt even more ashamed of Li Zhao.
Feng Quji didn't answer. The whole world knew about this. Why did the emperor still say this? He was a good man and naturally he wouldn't talk nonsense.
"It's Shu Sun Tong, not Li Zhao."
"Him?" Feng Quji was surprised.
The censor was also very surprised, frowned, and thought: Shusun Tong was responsible for burning the classics in the eastern suburbs. This does not mean that this person had planned it in advance. He also made your majesty trust him step by step and let him handle it. In this matter, his purpose is actually to ban the second book?
Soon the censor came up with the idea that Shusuntong used a conspiracy to make his Majesty issue the decree. If your Majesty didn't know about it, it was not his fault.
For a moment, he felt that he was being led by Shusun Tong. He almost blamed His Majesty wrongly and almost ruined himself.
"This man has ulterior motives. He wants to target Li Zhao. I want to accuse him. What does Li Zhao think?"
"What your Majesty means?" Feng Quji guessed something.
"The trouble he caused will naturally be solved by him. If he can't solve it, it means he didn't do it well. The students will only point the finger at him, not the court."
Feng Qu listened quickly, and when he thought about it carefully, he was surprised. Your Majesty's move was wonderful.
An hour later, Shusun Tong came to see him. When he came in, he felt uncomfortable and trembling. The emperor summoned him now. A smart person like him would not know what was going on.
"I pay homage to Your Majesty!" Shusun Tong knelt down, not daring to raise his head.
Ying Zheng did not speak immediately, but suddenly his face became serious, and his authority spread out.
"Shu Sun Tong, do you know your guilt?" After a few breaths, the emperor said slowly.
Shusun Tong's head fell to the ground and he quickly begged for mercy: "I know that I am guilty. I should not ban the two books. But I also ask for my life for the sake of the students in the world."
"For the students all over the world? If it's for the students, why do you burn classics in the eastern suburbs, encourage students to smash bookstalls, and destroy two books?"
"Your Majesty, this..." Shusun Tong trembled in his heart when he heard this, his words trembled, and he quickly begged for mercy, "Your Majesty is wronged! Your Majesty did not do this, it was all a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Do you think I am blind or deaf? Everyone in the world is my eyes and ears, so why misunderstand me?"
Shusuntong's body trembled uncontrollably, his back was covered in cold sweat, and his head fell lower.
Facing the emperor, I didn't know how to argue.
People will know that there is something fishy at a glance.
"This is a capital crime, do you know?" Ying Zheng did not intend to deal with him immediately. He slowly walked over and looked down.
"Your Majesty..."
"Hmph! I still want to make excuses."
Ying Zheng's eyes were so sharp.
After a while, his expression slowly softened, and he couldn't kill this beast at this moment, "Since it was you who banned the two books, which caused the commotion among the students, I will temporarily forgive your sin and order you to resolve the matter of the two books immediately, otherwise... ...You know the consequences." Ying Zheng suppressed his anger and ultimately did not ask guilt.
Shusun Tong thought that he would die this time. When he suddenly heard this, he was secretly happy and thanked him quickly, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely handle this matter well and give you peace of mind."
"Go ahead! I want to see the results within three days."
"Promise! I will fulfill my mission."
Soon Shusun Tong took the order and left tremblingly, and Feng Quji became worried.
"Your Majesty, can he resolve this matter?"
Ying Zheng pondered for a while and shook his head: "No!" He knew Li Zhao's temperament. He was tricked into being like this. It was strange that he would agree to release the second book.
"Then His Majesty let him handle it."
Ying Zheng's face darkened and he said sternly: "Don't ask any more questions about this matter."
Feng Quji shut up immediately.
"Censor!" Ying Zheng looked at the censor who was still kneeling.
The censor quickly agreed.
"I don't blame you for your doubtful remarks just now. From now on, I order you to keep an eye on Shusun Tong. If there is anything suspicious about him, report it immediately."
"Promise! I will fulfill my mission."
The censor's tense heart relaxed slightly and he left quickly.
After returning to the mansion, Shusun Tong immediately changed into a different person. His face was extremely ferocious, and he would smash things he saw.
"Damn it, damn it! How could your Majesty know about something that is so obvious?"
"The second book is a miscellaneous book, how could it suddenly become a topic for the imperial examination? What is going on?"
"Li Zhao, you are so hateful! Why did you break my legs? If you hadn't done this, I wouldn't have held a grudge against you, wouldn't have come up with this plan, and wouldn't have been noticed by Your Majesty."
He blamed Li Zhao for everything that happened today.
"Ask me to solve the problem of the Second Book? Doesn't this require me to resist the decree? Everyone in the world knows that the Second Book is sealed by me. Will Li Zhao cooperate to release the Second Book? Impossible."
He is still self-aware.
"Old Ying Zheng, I never knew about your little thoughts. Didn't you ask me to come to Li Zhao's house to relieve my anger, thereby ruining my status in the eyes of the students? You are so cruel! This is the same as punishing me. What a difference."
Shusun Tong was talking to himself, completely unaware that someone was approaching slowly. After realizing it, he quickly became alert and asked, "Who is it?"
"Master, it's me!"
It was Dongzi, Shusun Tong's scholar. Dongzi came in and brought food and drink to his master.
"Why are you here? Were you eavesdropping just now?" Shusun Tong looked at his personal pedagogue warily and asked with a sharp glare.
"Haha!" Dongzi changed his previous submissiveness and became tough. He put down the food and drink and said, "Master, don't be nervous. Dongzi is not an outsider, so why should you be afraid?"
Shusun Tong gritted his teeth, "Did Jia Xiong find you? Are you so presumptuous, have you taken refuge in him?"
Dongzi laughed and still handed over his hand, "The master is worrying too much. General Jia still doesn't like slaves, but he hopes that the master can sit down and have a chat."
"Talk? Don't you know what he is worried about? Don't mention this person in front of me in the future."
The more Shusun Tong thought about it, the angrier he became. In fact, Jia Xiong was involved in planning the burning of the classics. If it hadn't been for this person, he wouldn't be in such a passive position today.
"Forget it! I will tell General Jia truthfully what I said."
"You? You?" Shusuntong pointed at Dongzi and was very angry, but Dongzi didn't care at all, let alone trembled and frightened. He just turned around and smiled, and walked out swaggeringly.
After a few breaths, he turned back, squinted his eyes and said, "Oh, by the way, Master, I heard everything you just said, and I will tell General Jia truthfully."
"Of course, don't think about killing people and silencing them. You don't know what I'm capable of."
Soon, Dongzi left, making Shusuntong's body tremble with anger.
"You don't know people well!"
I lamented for a moment, but had to lower my head.
Jia Xiong has been looking for him for more than a day or two, always talking about wooing him. He is a great scholar, so how could he give up for five buckets of rice? He is a man of character, so he keeps refusing. Little does he know that this man has bribed his book boy. Let all his privacy be revealed without reservation.
This time I tried my best to put Li Zhao down, just to get His Majesty's appreciation and get rid of this person's entanglement, but I didn't know that it was self-defeating.
"That's all! I'll go to Chang'an Township tomorrow."
In the main hall of Zhangtai Palace, only Ying Zheng was handling government affairs. Suddenly, a black figure appeared out of thin air, dressed in black, like a ghost in the daytime.
"You came!"
"Yeah!" The person who came was none other than Tie Ying.
"Any more news?"
"Yes, Jia Xiong has met with Shu Sun Tong many times recently. Tie Ying suspects that the burning of classics in the eastern suburbs is related to him."
"Jia Xiong also wants to harm Li Zhao. Did the last rice incident make Jia Xiong dissatisfied with Li Zhao and resent him?"
Tie Ying did not nod, but his deep eyes could be seen under the black cloth.
"It must not be that simple. Someone wants Li Zhao dead."
"Who?" Ying Zheng's face darkened.
"Tie Ying hasn't found out yet, but it should be soon."
"Check as soon as possible, it seems some people are about to surface."
The conversation between the two was very cryptic. After a while, the black shadow disappeared, leaving Ying Zheng alone with a gloomy face, which was extremely ugly.
(End of chapter)
