The memorial said that more than 2,000 people in Gu'an County gathered to cause chaos. The rioters surrounded the county magistrate and even stormed the residence of the imperial envoy.
The situation went completely out of control when someone accidentally killed the county government clerk.
This was a big deal. After an official died, everyone knew that they could not survive at all. Coupled with the accumulation of anger in the past few days, even a timid person would risk his life.
"well."
Zhu Houzhao's character is such that he only gets angry over trivial things. But when big things happen, he becomes less angry. He was like this from his previous life.
Maybe it was something so bad that it made him feel cold from head to toe, so he became calmer. Once you calm down, you will find that anger, fear, and worry are actually not helpful. At this time, the most important thing is to think about how to deal with it.
Of course, when this happened, Zhu Houzhao still inevitably sighed.
"Let's talk about it, how to solve this matter?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that since there is civil unrest, we should send a large army to quell the chaos quickly to prevent the situation from getting worse and worse." Wang Zhen, the Minister of War, replied.
"The rioters are no better than the officials and soldiers of the imperial court. They will disperse at the slightest obstacle, which will cause trouble in other counties. I suggest that your majesty inform the surrounding counties to strengthen their guards and not let anyone go. After all, one county has been turbulent, and it cannot be rioted again." Two counties.”
"Wei ministers thought that if they were forced to use coercion, inducement, division and disintegration, these chaotic people would not be able to unite as one, because gathering together was for profit and not righteousness. As long as there was a slight inducement, they would be able to separate and attack them."
…
Zhu Houzhao saw that what they all said was sound and logical, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in his heart. He said: "How to divide the land in the hands of the rich? You have no clue at all. You just dropped the needle in the Qianqing Palace." Wen, it’s difficult to say it out, but it’s also difficult to do that. But you have a good idea of how to deal with the common people. If you are a rioter, then if you are a rioter... we will force you to rebel!"
Pressure, containment, provocation...all means are available.
It sounds really ironic.
The emperor pondered for a while and said: "...the Ministry of War will transfer the nearest guard post to Gu'an County."
"Yes, I obey the order."
"Da Sima, this matter cannot be delayed. You go first."
Wang Bing stood up and said, "Yes!"
When he walked outside, he still had a smile flowing out of his mouth. This Li Dongyang... also asked for it.
In the Palace of Qianqing.
Zhu Houzhao asked: "Mr. Li Ge, if the people of Gu'an County can resist, what if other counties respond?"
"I believe that in emergencies, we still need to take strict precautions!"
"But didn't the sage say that it is better to defend the people's mouth than to defend the river? The common people have no ground under their feet and no roof over their heads. Under such circumstances, if you rebel against one county today, you may rebel against two counties tomorrow, and three counties the day after tomorrow. , If our monarchs and ministers continue to live in such a muddle-headed manner, one day, people everywhere will rise up and leave us without a place to die!"
Zhu Houzhao's tone gradually became stronger as he spoke, and by now his voice was noisy, "This country is passed down from our ancestors and cannot be destroyed in my hands. These people are all my people, not yours. If you don’t love me, I will!”
After saying this, he took two steps to the side. Then there was a 'swish' sound and a sword was drawn out!
Wang Hao was shocked when he saw it. What was the emperor going to do?
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Although there is chaos in Gu'an County at the moment, the court has sufficient food and grass, strong soldiers and horses, so why worry about scabies?!"
British Duke Zhang Maoze looked at the emperor with some trembling eyes,
What was said to him just now was obviously dissatisfaction with him.
Now that the swords have been drawn out, is it really impulsive to splatter the Qing Palace with blood?
Zhu Houzhao glanced at everyone with sharp eyes, and then thrust forward!
Plop!
Liu Jin knelt down with a look of horror on his face, "Your Majesty, spare your life!"
good,
Zhu Houzhao slowly walked over and pointed his sword at Liu Jin's face.
All the ministers were completely confused.
"Liu Jin, you said that I am loyal to you and never have second thoughts."
Liu Jin hurriedly complained in a tearful tone: "I am loyal to Your Majesty. This is absolutely true! Regardless of whether the people are in chaos or not, I only have your Majesty's piece of sunshine!"
"Okay!" Zhu Houzhao shouted, "Then now I order you to inspect the farmland occupied by the twenty-four palace eunuchs in Beizhili and order them to hand over all their acres! Together with my imperial village, return it to the people! "
Liu Jin gasped for breath. After listening to the emperor's words, he was stunned for a while before he realized, "Your Majesty meant... to call me a slave..."
"You heard that right! That's what I meant! Gale Wind knows Jincao, at this time, I want to ask you and the people in the palace, are you willing to stand with me, or stick to those field deeds?!"
The eunuchs in the palace, especially smart eunuchs like Liu Jin, actually thought this issue through.
As a eunuch, the emperor is willing to reward you. You will have everything, and you can even live nine thousand years old. But if he is not willing to give it to you, you will not have an acre of land, and maybe you will not even have your life.
At first, Wei Bin just didn't understand this truth.
Especially when there are negative examples like the British father in front of him, it further demonstrates his loyalty. He is not reluctant to part with a few acres of land.
So he shouted: "This slave is only loyal to Your Majesty! I will check the fields occupied by the palace now! Your Majesty has said that I will not let them keep an acre!"
"Okay!" Zhu Houzhao took back his sword, "Mr. Li Ge, Mr. Xie Ge."
"Old minister...I am here."
"You draft a decree. Send it to all the prefectures and counties in Northern Zhili. Order them to organize manpower, clear out the land, and distribute my imperial village and palace farmland to the common people on an equal basis to each household! I will order the Jinyi Guards to investigate everywhere. Tan, if anyone dares to occupy more acres of land in this process... Mr. Li Ge, if I kill these people, the world will not be shaken, right? In times of civil unrest, heavy codes should be used, and benevolence at such times is Women are kind, don’t you think?"
The last question was a bit tongue-in-cheek.
Li Dongyang knew that he could not add any more extraneous matters, so he responded: "In times of crisis, you can only take extraordinary measures. I also believe that if someone knows the law and breaks the law at this time, he should be punished on the spot!"
In fact, they are very weird people.
The emperor's words, "You don't love me, but I love you" almost turned them into opposites.
But even at this time, no one would come out and say: It is up to the ministers to inspect the fields occupied by officials at all levels.
In addition, so far, Zhu Houzhao has not mentioned a word about the British Duke, let alone other honorable ministers, as well as the bureaucrats who still occupy a large amount of farmland.
Because everyone can indeed say that my land is not occupied, but bought. With millions of acres of fertile land, how could there be so many people trying to find out what’s going on here?
Moreover, the people who occupied the land and the people who investigated the case were basically the same people. Who would investigate themselves?
But Zhu Houzhao wanted to destroy all the reputations of these people.
If there is civil unrest, this incident will spread to everyone, and then people will know what the emperor did in this incident and what the ministers did in this incident.
In contrast, what he really wants to pay attention to is not the corrupt officials and the more than 2,000 ordinary people.
Rather, it is a field of public opinion.
Once public opinion is in the hands of others, even if you do good things, they will say, ah, look, there was civil unrest, now you know how to correct it, right? Or maybe it was a certain emperor who was superior to someone else, so he had this result.
In this level of struggle, if someone crosses the line, Zhu Houzhao will arrest him.
But he would not arrest the British Duke for the time being. As the head of the honorable ministers, even if he really occupied a few acres of land, the emperor would look mean and unkind if he wanted to kill him.
After all, if your old Zhu family is in charge of the world, you can't give a mouthful of soup to these honorable ministers, right?
In contrast, he chose to create a moral context in which the emperor divided the fields for the sake of the people, while some other civil servants and generals... they were reluctant to part with their three melons and two dates.
He just wants to stand on the highest commanding heights. When it comes to dividing the land next time, he can ignore the rules: because all of you who dissuade me are trying to go against the people of the world, and you are all real harm to the people.
"Your Majesty!" The British prince was frightened, and this comparison also made him uncomfortable. "I am willing to donate 100 acres of farmland at home."
But at this time, the emperor had already walked inside and ignored them. He only waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please step back. I am tired."
"His Majesty!!"
It was useless for him to shout. In fact, his previous words had already set his impression on the emperor.
Everyone also knew that the emperor was somewhat annoyed with these honorable ministers. Since I am angry, of course I can ignore you.
Tonight's incident directly caused the suspension of the DPRK meeting on the second day.
At present, officials from all walks of life are present in Beijing, and amid the excitement, the matter quickly spreads out.
As a result, young people were angry in restaurants everywhere.
"I really don't understand, what are the disadvantages of the world?!"
===
Update today, something happened tonight. I wrote this chapter during the day and just revised it for posting.
(End of chapter)
