Brother Song Taizu

Chapter 139 Public Trial from the People

Debate with hundreds of thousands of people outside the city?
What do people know about debate?
Should we argue with our mouths or with our fists?

Everyone wanted to talk again, but Zhao Kuangyin didn't give him any chance. He turned around and returned to the palace. Yang Xin blocked the door in person so that no one could see him. Once the words were spoken, it was useless for anyone to say anything.

That night, only Zhao Guangyi reluctantly went in and successfully asked to see Zhao Kuangyin.

In the end, Zhao Kuangyin said without waiting for him to speak:

"Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, and many other schools of thought all serve the king in the final analysis. Whichever one is useful to the king will be used by the king. The reason why hundreds of schools of thought were deposed to only respect Confucianism is because only Confucianism pays the most attention to loyalty to the king. The Tao also pays attention to etiquette and law in everything, but it also attaches importance to clan, family, and human ethics and filial piety. It also believes that filial piety comes before loyalty, and family comes first before country. This is acceptable for both the military system and the powerful. In other words , is easy to use, but it does not mean that what Confucius and others said is really right."

"Our Zhao family should indeed learn the ways of Confucianism, but in the end, it all comes down to the use of a word. It is us who use it and control it, rather than being controlled by him."

"Father asked you to study the books of saints and sages since you were young, just so that you can use them for yourself. You are fond of ancient times, talk about etiquette, enjoy learning, and even use it to treat virtuous people. You still have thoughts about the position of the crown prince. I am willing to be the leader of these civil servants and want to use them to compete with the third brother. This is all for use and it is good. The third brother has always been fair and aboveboard in his fight with you. If you want to fight, there is no need. Hiding and tucking, it’s all good.”

"But second brother, at least you have to figure out who is using whom, right? It's your ability to make this civil servant of the Manchu Dynasty work for you. I admire you, and third brother will also respect you. Look at how arrogant he is. A person who never dares to look down on you, but if these civil servants use you in turn, then you will really become a joke."

"Third brother, he wants to change. I'm afraid anyone with a little bit of brains can see clearly now. If you want to change, you have to completely overturn the tax system. Naturally, those civil servants are not happy and have some resistance. Of course I understand. I have already predicted it, and I am afraid that the third brother also knows that this may not be possible in the end, and he is just trying to achieve whatever he wants, but hasn’t the change not started yet? I’m going to start a little bit today, Are they impatient? If we can't even touch these 1 troublemaking rebels, what else do my third brother and I want to accomplish in the future?"

When Zhao Guangyi saw this, he looked confused.

Zhao Kuangyin just talked about it and said: "What the third brother wants to do will not offend one group of people or two groups of people, but almost offend the whole world. Those civil servants and subordinate officials are the cornerstone of our Song Dynasty." , Although I support the third brother, we Zhao Song cannot really be on the same level as the civil servants all over the world. At this time, you are the buffer."

"To put it bluntly, in the future, if the situation comes to a point where we completely break up the relationship and seriously endanger the existence of the imperial court or even the safety of the world, I will still count on you to come forward. This is also the reason why I have always allowed you to interact with the ministers, but now , are you talking about that time? At this time, you start to be a peacemaker and make peace with the mud? What will you do when you are really needed in the future? "

Zhao Guangyi was stunned and said: "Then I will..."

"You should pretend to be dead now! When the third child comes back, you will help the civil service group to fight with him. Why did you come to me directly! If you come against me, there will be no turning back for you and me. Do you understand? As long as you and the third child are at each other's throats, I, the eldest brother, can fight as I please! Don't you know how to do such a simple method? Don't we three brothers have such a tacit understanding? "

"Oh~, then, then I...understand."

Then, confused and dizzy, he went out.

Looking up at the stars on the night sky, he couldn't help but laugh at himself.

"Hey~, after all, the ability is insufficient and the city is not enough."

After all, he is just a young man in his early 20s. In fact, in modern times, he has not even graduated from college. In the next week, all he would do is serve tea and water to the front minister, and he started working. How many years have you been in the position?

He was suddenly promoted to the position of deputy national level. Although he grew up quickly and was indeed diligent, his methods were indeed a little immature.

It took me a long time to reflect before I finally realized: Yes, I was supposed to be using those civil servants as a knife, so how could it be that they turned out to be using me as a knife?

Hey ~
As a result, Zhao Guangyi visited Zhao Kuangyin at night, but naturally he did not bring back a decent reply to the civil servants. Instead, he took the initiative to invite himself back to Kaifeng the next day.

After all, he is also the governor of Kaifeng.

The next day, the so-called debate was held as scheduled, because the residents outside the city actually lived with fellow villagers according to their respective places of origin, in counties or even townships.

So these [-] or so Confucian scholars were directly placed next to their respective villagers, and then they looked at each other and said, hey, we are acquaintances.

Almost all of those who could go to Kaifeng to cause trouble for Zhao Guangmei were not from powerful landlord backgrounds.

And aren’t most of the people living outside Yangzhou City the new citizen class who have escaped from rural land control?

Old and new grudges come together.

So it's almost the same situation:

"You went to Kaifeng to oppose the New Deal? Why did you oppose the New Deal?"

"Forehead……"

"Isn't this landlord Liu? Okay, you used to bully us when we were in the countryside. Now that we have finally lived a good life, how about you just not see us?"

"Hit him! Hit him!"

Of course, Huainan cannot gather 1 landlords. These scholars are not only from Huainan. The common people outside Yangzhou City do not represent the entire Huainan. The vast majority are from the surrounding areas of Yangzhou, as well as Bozhou, Qinzhou and other places. The common people, those from other places, should not be beaten in the first place.

However, seeing this so-called debate turned into a fight, the officials were watching from the city wall, and the most elite Gongsheng Army in the Song Dynasty was surrounding them with weapons, but no one cared.

Everyone was watching the fun with great interest, and some soldiers were even shouting loudly: "Kick him in the crotch, don't just slap him in the face, take off his clothes and make them look embarrassed. Didn't they say that Shi can be killed?" Is it not to be humiliated?"

Then the common people living outside the city suddenly realized that it turned out that the officials and the Gongsheng Army were just watching and not caring.

If you don't care...

Is there any reason not to beat him up?

debate?

A trivial argument.

After a while, Zhao Kuangyin saw that it was almost done, and then he asked the Gongsheng Army to stop and rescued the scholars. Afterwards, statistics showed that out of the 3000 scholars, more than 4000 were dead and more than [-] were seriously injured. Two thousand people could barely leave standing upright after the "debate" ended.

Zhao Kuangyin graciously drove them all away and asked them to go back to their respective homes. As for those who were dead or seriously injured, he ordered Shen Yilun to send officials one by one to notify their families to pick up the corpses according to their place of origin. .

The founding king who had always killed few people, was cautious about killing people, and even rarely killed people internally, actually watched three thousand well-educated Confucian scholars being beaten to death by the mob in front of his eyes on this day, but he didn't even open his eyes. Didn't even blink!
Is this the same official who has always admired benevolence?
However, they saw that Zhao Kuangyin's face showed no emotion. Three thousand corpses were still on one side, piled up into a hill. Most of the accompanying civil servants were frightened to the point of trembling with fear, shaking like chaff, but Zhao Kuangyin still looked calm. Zi Ruo just glanced at the mountain of corpses indifferently and ignored them. He could even cross his legs and drink tea calmly.

After drinking the tea, he said: "Isn't that Li Pingjun from before the magistrate of Yangzhou? Bring him here. Didn't he say that he is not guilty? If he is guilty or not, let's hand him over to the people for trial."

After saying that, a dark face turned around and glanced at the civil servants behind him, and said: "Do you think it is unfair that as a court official and such a high-level purple-robed official, he has to be humiliated by the common people in Guizhou? Morality? It doesn't matter. If you have any questions, just tell me. I have publicly promised a long time ago that I, the Song Dynasty, will never be punished for my words."

All the civil servants continued to shake like chaff and lowered their heads.

Everyone really thinks so in their hearts, after all, a scholar cannot be killed and cannot be humiliated.

But at this moment, who dares to stand up and say it?
What if you and Li Pingjun are also put on trial?
So Li Pingjun was taken out, but his crime and identity were announced on a high platform. Soon, the people inside and outside Yangzhou City were in an uproar.

Yang Xin directly led the person into the crowd, held his neck and said: "Folks, this person is Li Pingjun, the prefect of Yangzhou. Some people in the court said that he has done an excellent job in politics in Yangzhou in recent years and has an excellent reputation. Although He committed the crime of treason, but it is excusable, haha." "You all are people from Yangzhou or surrounding areas. I guess no one knows better than you how Li Pingjun, the prefect of Yangzhou, is doing. , you think, should this person be killed or pardoned?"

For a long time, no one spoke.

These poor people in Guizhou had never seen such a battle before. They had just beaten those Confucian scholars and felt that it was unprecedented. Now that they thought about it, they were inevitably a little scared.

Good guy, we just finished beating the Confucian scholars and now we have to judge the prefect again?

This is too exciting.

After a while, a strong man jumped out and cursed loudly: "The dog officer deserves to die!"

Yang Xin smiled and said, "Why should I die?"

"I... my sister and brother-in-law's family are from Yangzhou. Just because the wealthy Shen family saw that my sister was good-looking, they falsely accused my brother-in-law of stealing. Poor my brother-in-law, he was beaten to death. He wanted to occupy my eldest sister, but my eldest sister was so fierce that she hit her head against a wall pillar and died."

"My family went to sue the officials, but the county magistrate took the benefits of the Shen family and protected them. We were dissatisfied and went to the Yangzhou government office to sue, but we were beaten out by this dog official with a stick. Poor dad, my dad ...He was the one who was beaten to death!"

When Yang Xin heard this, he couldn't help but be moved. In fact, this Yang Xin was really not a general, but a serious fan soldier. Although the fan soldiers were arrogant, they were almost all from poor backgrounds.

The predecessors of the Dianqiansi were all refugees who came to Kaifeng to find a way to survive. He felt the same way about this. Hearing this, he sighed sincerely: "If what you said is true, then he will die because of this alone." Unfortunately, if it were still the time of the Later Tang Dynasty, our tooth soldiers should have killed him at this time."

"Everything the grassroots said is true. If there is even the slightest bit of falsehood, I am willing to be knifed to death. My whole family and all the villagers in our village know this. I can call them to testify at any time."

Yang Xin said: "No need, I believe you."

Let's talk. Under Li Pingjun's horrified look, Yang Xin took out a big net and covered him. He was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder split. He shouted: "Yang Xin, you, what are you doing? I , I am a purple robe, I am a purple robe, even if you want to die, even if you want to kill me, you can't do this, Yang Xin, you can't do this, official family, official family, I am a purple robe!"

Yang Xin ignored him and said loudly: "The official family has an order that all Yangzhou people who have been bullied by this dog official can come forward to complain. If the dog official is really guilty of death, he will be here Make a cut on the fishing net."

"Within one day, if before dark today, the dog thief is not dead after being struck by a knife, his sins will be pardoned. If he dies, then this person's crimes are so heinous that it is difficult to record them. He should be left in the history books and be left in infamy for thousands of years. For future generations, set an example for corrupt officials."

As he said that, he pulled out a dagger and handed it to the man just now.

"Cut off whichever piece you like, and avenge your father, sister and brother-in-law with your own hands."

"Yes, but my lord, I, I don't want to use a knife."

"Don't want to use a knife? What do you want to use?"

When the man heard this, he rushed forward and bit into Li Pingjun's flesh.

"Dog officer!"

Yang Xin said: "He's a dancing man."

Li Pingjun screamed miserably, with blood and tears flowing, and shouted loudly: "No... no... it's not like this, it shouldn't be like this, hahaha, Yang Xin, you are also an official, you are also an official! Kill me, kill me quickly and give me a good time!"

But where can Yang Xin deal with him?After a while, another old woman stood up and shouted: "The Li family, a wealthy family in Pi County, just because the second son of his family is good at calligraphy and painting, gave him an ancient painting... I don't know where it came from. He brags everywhere that he is your best friend, and he runs rampant in the countryside, but the county magistrate dares not take care of him. Do you know how many people he has killed?"

Li Pingjun looked confused: "What Li family, a big family in Pi County? I don't know him, I really don't know him."

"How dare you make excuses!"

After saying that, the old woman actually pounced on him, and imitating the man's behavior, she opened her mouth and bit him.

Li Pingjun screamed repeatedly, and kept saying loudly: "It's not me, I really don't know, I really don't know any Li family in Pi County!"

In fact, he really didn't lie.

Soon, more and more people came to him, accusing him of various crimes, but in fact, he, Li Pingjun, really had no impression of most of them.

He really hasn't done it.

After all, he is still a high official in Xinjiang. In fact, officials at the prefect level in local government have very little direct contact with ordinary people, especially villagers.

What's more, he is still the prefect of Yangzhou.

He really had no impression at all of what those unscrupulous people said.

These are the county magistrates below, the powerful men below, and the petty officials below, talking nonsense. They have ruined their reputations and acted recklessly. They have been unjustly accused.

Those powerful county magistrates and their ilk will throw any shit they throw at their heads!
At most, I'm just... just... too lazy to care.

He is the prefect.

Every day, I come into contact with kind-hearted squires from all over the country, rich businessmen who come and go, and talented literati.

Where do you have the time, where do you have the energy, and where do you have the mind to care about the affairs of poor people like you in Guizhou?How could I possibly oppress you?I am no match for you, the capital of Guizhou!
That was all done by the county magistrates and powerful people below.

I...I was wronged.

Shouldn't I be unyielding, die heroically, and live forever?

I am wronged...

It shouldn't be like this...

More and more people came forward, and one accusation after another fell on his head.
After all, they are not professional executioners. Soon, that thing that barely looks like a human being will no longer be able to cut any blood.

The civil servants who watched the live broadcast looked at me and I looked at you, and they all saw deep fear in each other's seriousness.

There are too many unruly people.

His Highness the King of Qin has only been in Huainan for more than half a year, and there are already so many unruly people in Yangzhou. If the New Deal is implemented in the future, or even His Highness the King of Qin inherits the throne, how many unruly people will there be in the world?

Today, Li Pingjun was brutally wronged, but what about tomorrow?What about the day after tomorrow?Will it be my turn?
(End of this chapter)