Summer has entered, and the weather has begun to get hot, but it has no impact on the prison. Coldness is its characteristic, and humidity is synonymous with it.
Of course, the prison in the imperial city is not as terrifying as the outside world imagines. Apart from being tightly guarded, less illuminated, and a bit quieter and eerie, there are no other shortcomings. When it comes to cleanliness and tidiness, the sanitation of Zhao Prison is probably the best among prisons in the world.
As for the reason why the imperial edicts were feared and feared by people, and even rumors were spread around, the only reason was that those who entered the imperial edicts were all nobles and bureaucrats with a certain status in the court. The cases were generally decided by the emperor, and few of them could get out alive.
For the Han Dynasty bureaucrats, entering the imperial edict not only meant the end of their official careers, but also basically represented the end of their lives, and would affect the next generation. Therefore, no one wants to have anything to do with the prison.
In the early summer of the 11th year of Qianyu, the imperial prison welcomed a new high-ranking official. In recent years, the criminals received by the imperial prison were not many in comparison, but only a few of them had a significant impact. people.
Among the ministers, before Zhao Li, it was Duke Ren Jingchong, and before that, it was former prime minister Yang Bin. Among so many people, only Yang Bin walked out of the prison alive. The others all died, without exception. As for Yang Bin, his end was not good either. For eight full years, Mr. Yang was still squatting in a kiln in the Jingyuan area. However, it is said that one can still live in poverty, survive the bitter cold, and still have a healthy body and bones.
There was a sound of footsteps in the silent and cold passage, step by step, clear and heavy, stepping on the hearts of the prisoners. As if feeling something, Zhao Li raised his head. After a rustling sound of unlocking, the closed iron door of the cell was opened.
He had been in prison for only a few days, but Zhao Li looked much older, like those who had suffered a major blow. These days, in this high-walled iron gate surrounded by thick walls, he rarely recalled and reflected on his official career.
He became an official in the Later Tang Dynasty and wasted his time in the Later Jin Dynasty. When the Han Dynasty was established and Liu Chengyou visited Luoyang in the west in the first year of Qianyou, he entered the emperor's field of vision. From then on, he rose steadily.
He came from a humble background and was promoted by the emperor. In his early years, he repaid the emperor with great enthusiasm and whole-hearted devotion. Zhao Li made great contributions to the reconstruction of the Han Dynasty's supervisory system, the restoration of supervisory systems at all levels, and the selection of internal and external censors.
Of course, the emperor did not treat him lightly for his loyalty and dedication. He was a high-ranking official with great power, and he was never stingy with his titles and salaries.
These ten years were the ten years when Zhao Li became famous and the ten years when he had unlimited glory. However, when did he start to become corrupt and abuse his power for personal gain? After thinking a lot, he finally determined that it seemed that since that cold winter, he had received a basket of coal, and then favors, money, and beauties came one after another, so much so.
It is inevitable to look back on the past and say regret, but only when regret is useless can we see things so clearly and realize everything.
Guo Tong took two steps into the cell and looked at Zhao Li, who was sitting there blankly, with some emotion in his eyes. The gray on his temples tells the story of all the desolation. You must know that Zhao Li is not even 46 years old now. As the center of the imperial court and a well-ranked minister, Guo Tong was very clear about the favor and favor Zhao Li received from the emperor.
The high-rise building was built yesterday, the guests were entertained today, and the building collapsed tomorrow. Such an ending is really sad.
Seeing that it was Guo Tong, Zhao Li perked up slightly and became a little more excited. He called out: "Guo Chengzhi!"
From Zhao Li's eyes, there seems to be a little hope. Guo Tong's expression was stiff and he said: "Your Majesty has spoken!"
Hearing this, Zhao Li immediately knelt down and knocked his forehead to the ground: "The guilty minister is hereby ordered!"
"Your Majesty said that Zhao Li was derelict in his duties and violated the law. His crimes were extremely heinous and he failed to meet my expectations!" Guo Tong said with almost no emotion in his voice: "Your Majesty also said that in consideration of the ten years of friendship between the king and his ministers, he will give you a decent face and will be executed in the lawless field! "
Hearing what Guo Tong said, Zhao Li couldn't help but tremble, and he had a tendency to collapse, but he managed to hold on. His eyes gradually became desperate, and then some tears appeared in his old eyes. Zhao Li said in a calm tone: "I have let down your majesty's kindness, and my crime should be punished. I thank you, your majesty! I can no longer serve in this life, but I will be married in the next life." The grass in the ring repays the favor!"
Watching Zhao Li's performance, Guo Tong gestured back, and two guards immediately brought up two trays, one with white silk and one with poisonous wine, and said: "I have brought two things to Mr. Zhao. Please Take your pick!”
Looking up, Zhao Li suddenly pleaded sincerely: "I have a wish, and I hope it will come true!"
"Please speak!" Guo Tong frowned.
Zhao Li said: "On the occasion of his death, the guilty minister wanted to give His Majesty the last performance!"
After a moment's hesitation, Guo Tong waved his hand and ordered: "Give him paper and pen!"
After about a stick of incense, Guo Tong put the paper with still wet ink in his arms, and then stared at Zhao Li. Seeing this, Zhao Li showed a wry smile, and the sadness on his face was reduced a bit.
He straightened his messy prison uniform, bowed solemnly towards the north, and then chose poisonous wine. With slightly trembling hands, he picked up the cup filled with wine, gritted his teeth, and poured it into his mouth as if he was determined...
After it was confirmed that Zhao Li was dead, Guo Tong ordered people to clean up temporarily, and then returned to Chongzheng Hall with a heavy heart to resume his duties.
Zhao Li was deeply rooted in the supervisory system of the Han Dynasty. He had many disciples and old officials. Because he was trusted by the emperor, he was very powerful. He was one of the most powerful people in the court. However, even such an important minister with great influence was dismissed without any warning. The emperor gave an order to arrest, imprison, interrogate, and sentence him to death, all with one word, without the ability to resist.
Zhao Li's death was not meaningless. It at least announced to the world the emperor's official attitude. Even when Zhao Li committed a crime, he was mercilessly punished and executed. But when it came to others, it was enough to alert all officials.
On the other hand, it proves that in the current Han Dynasty, the ministerial power no longer has the strength to compete with the imperial power, and a situation in which the emperor is strong and the ministers are weak has been formed unconsciously.
"Your Majesty, Zhao Li has been sentenced to death!" Guo Tong walked into the Chongzheng Hall and returned his orders to Liu Chengyou who was sitting behind the imperial case.
Liu Chengyou, who was directing the northwest immigration affairs, raised his eyelids and responded calmly: "Yes!"
The emperor's dull reaction was heart-wrenching. Guo Tong said: "Before Zhao Li died, he was quite remorseful and promised to repay His Majesty's kindness in the next life!"
"Haha! If regret is useful, what else does the law need?" Liu Chengyou chuckled, paused, and then said: "Inform his family to collect the body!"
"Your Majesty, Zhao Li's family property has been confiscated, and all his family members have been sent to Hunan..." Guo Tong reminded.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou sighed slightly and said: "Then I will give him a special decree and then exile him!"
"Your Majesty is benevolent!" Guo Tong immediately said with his hands in hand.
"After all, we have that friendship with me, so if I give him dignity, that will be enough!" Liu Chengyou said lightly.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Guo Tong took out Zhao Li's handwriting and presented it respectfully: "Your Majesty, before Zhao Li died, he wrote a suicide note, and I will give it to you!"
"I have nothing to say to him, but he still has something to say to me?" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled, as if he was mocking.
After taking it and looking at it for a while, Liu Chengyou's eyes became serious. After pondering for a long time, he put down the ink-stained memorial and told Guo Tong: "Go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, check out Zhao Li's recent official affairs, and bring them all to Chongzheng Hall!"
Somewhat curious about the emperor's performance, Guo Tong bowed: "Yes!"
Zhao Li's posthumous memorial did not show how regretful he was or how unworthy he was of trusting the emperor. It was just a very normal memorial about affairs. But the content of the report is not ordinary at all. What it says is the shortcomings of military officials in the world.
The so-called malpractice among military officials refers to the problem of retired and transferred officers that has spread all over the country. In the early years, when Liu Chengyou was reorganizing the imperial army, a large number of injured, retired and retired officers and soldiers were assigned to local areas, either as small officials in the countryside, as sergeants in prefectures and counties, or as leaders of rural soldiers.
In several wars, a group of meritorious people also emerged, and the imperial court rewarded them for their merits. Many people have been transferred to local positions in these years.
These arrangements were not only to refine the army, but also to appease the morale of the military and at the same time strengthen the court's influence and control over local states and counties. The original intention was good, but over the years, something went wrong.
