Chapter 47 Yuan’s fatal attack was easily resolved by Suzaku!

"Your Majesty, when General Zhu Jun was escorting Yuan Wei and his entire family to the execution ground, fires broke out in many places in Luoyang's twelve blocks. The yamen runners and patrol guards have already controlled the fire and it has not spread to the surrounding residential areas..."

Zhuque rode into the palace at full speed and reported the matter to Liu Bian.

This was clearly a matter of people's livelihood and did not require the intervention of Liu Bian, the king of a country. However, Zhuque presented the dragon case, which meant that there was something important behind the fire that was worthy of the emperor's attention.

Liu Bian was dealing with important military and political affairs, and his eyebrows raised slightly when he heard this.

The battles at Hulao Pass in the east of the Guanzhong Pass and Xuanyuan Pass in the south of the Guanzhong Pass ended with the capital's garrison troops repelling the coalition forces of the princes.

However, the coalition forces of the princes were so powerful and well-equipped that the troops in the capital could only rely on the eight passes in Luoyang for defense and could not go out to attack.

This led to a stalemate, as if the capital was surrounded by the allied forces and became an isolated city.

Liu Bian suddenly realized that Yuan was plotting to forge an imperial edict and call on the princes to besiege the capital. Was there some other conspiracy?
Just as he was thinking about it, Suzaku's information made his heart skip a beat.

Sure enough, Zhuque told the story of the turmoil in the capital, paused, and then said in a deep voice:
“After investigation by the Imperial Guards, it was found that the fires in the twelve districts of Luoyang were all caused by grain and salt merchants from various places. They burned all the grain and salt stored in their warehouses.

"The Jinyiwei arrested the grain and salt merchants and tortured them. Their answers were -

"Now the grain stored by the people in the capital has all been burned, and as for the official grain, the granary is empty. With a population of millions and hundreds of thousands of troops in the capital, the food consumption of the people and horses cannot last for three days.

"Now the princes of the world are besieging the capital from all directions. Although the eight passes in Luoyang have blocked the princes' coalition forces, they have also blocked the trade routes. The capital's supplies will not last more than three days.

"They said... I hope Your Majesty will revoke your order. Grand Tutor Yuan Wei cannot be killed. The world needs him!"

"..."

After hearing this, Liu Bian was stunned. He was reviewing the memorials and did not notice that the ink had smudged the memorials.

Zhuque lowered his head and listened carefully, not daring to look up at Your Majesty.

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing beside Liu Bian, watched his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, and even controlled his breathing to the point where it was barely audible.

The entire Deyang Palace was so silent that you could hear a pin drop!
But they know that the thunder is coming!

"So this is ah……"

Liu Bian suddenly laughed, a laugh that was a rip off of anger:
"The princes besieged the capital, and the Xiliang army caused chaos in the capital, making the capital unstable. Grain and salt merchants raised prices, causing prices to soar, in an attempt to force me to revoke my order.

"After finding out that I would not compromise, they burned the food and salt, threatening to fight to the death.

"What do they want to do? Let famine break out in the capital? Let the people be affected and point the finger at me?!

"Hahaha--"

Liu Bian finally understood why there was so much farce on the way when Zhu Jun was transporting Yuan Wei and his entire family to the execution ground.

There were fires and floods in the streets again... There were rioters disrupting public order again... There were people coming out to praise Yuan Wei for his loyalty to the emperor and his love for the people, his relief for disaster victims, and his dedication to the country and the people, while the Han emperor only knew how to sell official positions and titles, and was a tyrant...

It turns out that it’s all for this step!!!

In order to deliberately burn grain and grass, to cause chaos in the capital and thus cause famine, and to exaggerate the stupidity of Liu Bian, the Han Emperor!

If a famine broke out in the capital, Liu Bian knew without hesitation that those aristocratic families would use various means to fan the flames and stir up trouble, pointing the finger at Liu Bian, the Han emperor!
After Yang Biao led all the officials to knock on the door and cry loudly to force the emperor to abdicate, but failed, he wanted to use the people's will to force the emperor to abdicate? !

such a pity!
I will never compromise!!!
Liu Bian's face was solemn and filled with murderous intent. He said in a deep voice:
"Investigate thoroughly for me!!! Who are the people behind these grain merchants? !! ​​Anyone who is even slightly implicated, even if they are royal relatives, will be executed!!!"

"I obey your orders!!!"

Zhuque immediately took the order and retreated.

Liu Bian looked forward. There was a palace gate in front of him, and there were palaces and palace walls outside. But he seemed to be able to penetrate these obstacles and see Yuan Wei on the execution ground in the East Market.

Liu Bian seemed to see Yuan Wei's smile as if his evil plan had succeeded!

But what a pity!

I will never compromise!!!
……

East Market Execution Ground.

The sun gradually rose, and Zhu Jun seemed calm and composed as he sat on the execution platform, but he felt anxious in his heart, thinking "Hurry up, time is passing faster", and suddenly opened his eyes to check the time.

The first quarter of noon is around 11:00 am, and there is still half an hour until the exact quarter of noon, which is 12:00 am.

"too slow!"

Zhu Jun closed his eyes again.

He had opened and closed his eyes like this several times. Some people who were observant and careful enough to notice the details could naturally see the anxiety and nervousness in Zhu Jun's heart.

Don’t be nervous!

Now on the execution platform, the people who are about to be beheaded are the entire family of Taifu Yuan Wei. This is the Yuan family of Runan. There are three officials in four generations, and their students and former officials are spread all over the world.

Will he just sit there and wait for death?!

Behind Yuan Wei's family was Dong Zhuo's family. Although Dong Zhuo was assassinated, he was reckless in deposing and enthroning the emperor, which was extremely treasonous and implicated his entire family. And behind them were the officers and generals of the Xiliang Army, Niu Fu and other generals, as well as Xu You and others from Nanyang.

Thousands of people!
They are all powerful and influential figures in both the military and political circles!
Are there any factional activities behind these people? !
No one knows, but from Zhu Jun's nervousness and anxiety, it is not difficult to see that he is afraid that things will change!
"Crash-"

Time passes by minute by minute, and the days feel like years.

Just then, footsteps were suddenly heard.

This is the execution ground. There are patrol guards and yamen runners around to maintain law and order. In the distance there are crowds of common people, but they dare not make a sound, and even their breathing is very weak.

This also made the execution ground very quiet, dead silent, dead silent!

At this time, the sound of footsteps was heard, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. Then they saw officials headed by Shangshu Zhou Bi walking towards the execution platform step by step.

The onlookers were shocked and confused, not understanding what these officials were doing there.

But the scholars around who were well-versed in poetry and books, the dignitaries hiding in the restaurants and pavilions far away who were watching, and people like Yuan Wei in Xingtai, all knew what Zhou Bi wanted to do!
These people secretly sighed in their hearts, and seeing the fearless expressions of Zhou Bi and other officials, they knew that it would be a big deal!
In order to prevent the execution of Yuan Wei's entire family and force His Majesty to revoke his order, the Yuan family, their former students and allies came up with all kinds of clever schemes and plans.

"Da da da--"

But just as Zhou Bi and other officials approached the execution platform, they were stopped by the guards: "The execution ground is a restricted area, no outsiders are allowed to approach!"

Zhu Jun also opened his eyes at this time. When he saw Zhou Bi and other officials, his heart skipped a beat and his right eye twitched involuntarily.

"Jump right eye jump Choi disaster."

Zhu Jun sighed inwardly and spoke in a dignified manner, trying to shut up Zhou Bi and other officials and give them a warning:
"Today's matter is of great importance, so don't make mistakes!"

Zhou Bi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Since he had chosen to come to the execution ground, he was already prepared to die. If he was not afraid of death, what else was there to be afraid of?
"I, the Minister of State Zhou Bi, impeach the former Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, the deceased General He Jin, the deceased General of Chariots and Cavalry He Miao, and the Empress Dowager of Yongle Palace (Ms. He), for poisoning the late Emperor's biological mother, Empress Dowager Dong!"

Zhou se raised the evidence directly to his head with both hands:
"Here is the evidence that they poisoned Empress Dowager Dong. This is related to the biological mother of the late emperor and your majesty's grandmother. I hope your majesty will immediately order the court to interrogate and thoroughly investigate the authenticity of this evidence, and at the same time launch a detailed investigation!"

After Zhou Bi finished speaking, the whole place was still silent, as if it was dead silent. But the expressions of everyone present had changed. From astonishment to disbelief, and finally to horror and uproar!

"Wow—"

Waves of noise broke out one after another, and the people finally couldn't help whispering.

"Empress Dowager Dong...was poisoned to death by Yuan Wei, He Jin, He Miao and Empress Dowager He?!"

"Isn't this possible?!"

"In fact, there is a rumor that says that after the death of the previous emperor, Empress Dowager Dong and Empress Dowager He fought for power and eventually she was suddenly expelled from the palace and moved back to her home in Hejian, where she was poisoned to death on the way!"

"Some say it was General He Jin who did it, some say it was Empress Dowager He who instructed it, and some say it was Yuan Wei who secretly approved it... There are several different opinions!"

"Hiss - I always thought it was just groundless speculation, but now Shangshu Zhou Bi has impeached me in public. Could this be true?!"

"Slandering the current Empress Dowager is a capital crime! Would Zhou Bi joke about his own life?!"

"..."

There was no literary inquisition in the Han Dynasty where people were punished for their words, so when the people heard the words, they whispered and spoke freely.

Of course, even if they whispered and kept their voices down, there were too many people present, so crowded that it gradually became a bit noisy.

"Ugh--"

Zhu Jun sighed inwardly. It seemed that Zhou Bi had even impeached the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, and identified him as the criminal who murdered Queen Dowager Dong.

However, this is just a strategy of "retreat to advance".

Empress Dowager Dong is the biological mother of Emperor Ling and the grandmother of His Majesty. The Han Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. No matter what, it is reasonable and moral for His Majesty to issue an edict to thoroughly investigate this matter!
If we want to investigate this matter thoroughly, Grand Tutor Yuan Wei cannot be killed today!
As long as there is no execution today, there will be a second execution, and a third execution. The case can be delayed, and even the death penalty can be commuted to life imprisonment, and life imprisonment to fixed-term imprisonment, and finally the person can be acquitted.

The power of the Yuan family is extremely terrifying!

This is also the reason why Liu Bian could not wait to choose to "execute Yuan Wei's entire family three days later", in order to avoid any further complications and to catch Yuan and his allies off guard.

however!
In addition to Taifu Yuan Wei, this matter also implicates the deceased General He Jin, General He Miao, and the current Empress Dowager He!
After a thorough investigation, the Yuan family managed to pick out Yuan Wei and turned their attention to the He family!

This is your Majesty’s biological mother and uncle!
When the time comes, what will Your Majesty choose? !

The prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Is Your Majesty going to interrogate his biological mother? The deceased He Jin, and the He family's relatives who are implicated today? !
If Your Majesty did it, it would be mother-son violence, disloyalty and unfilial. An emperor who could even kill his own mother would not be popular with the people!
If Your Majesty does not do this, wouldn't that be disregarding the laws of the Han Dynasty? This is judicial injustice and Your Majesty's partiality!

Then, how could the Taifu Yuan Wei be so innocent that his entire family was executed? !
Zhu Jun didn't expect that Zhou Bi would use this incident as a breakthrough.

In fact, when Empress Dowager Dong died unexpectedly, there were already some rumors in the court, and the spearhead was directed at Empress Dowager He who was in power.

But these people all knew that even if it was true, they could not investigate it, let alone say anything, because this was actually the emperor's family affair!

It is difficult for an honest judge to judge family affairs, let alone royal family affairs?!
Regardless of whether it is true or false, Zhou Bi and the officials behind him will definitely die!

They did not impeach Yuan Wei in private, but openly broke the window paper on the execution ground where Yuan Wei and his entire family were about to be executed, in front of so many common people, so many scholars, and so many high-ranking officials!

This is forcing the emperor to abdicate!!!
This is embarrassing for His Majesty!!!

...

Many scholars, dignitaries, or people who understand politics present knew that Zhou Bi's impeachment of Yuan Wei and Queen Mother He was actually directed at the Han Emperor behind them. This was a veiled attack and a pretext!
They didn’t know if it was an illusion, but they seemed to see a smile on Yuan Wei’s face. Although it was fleeting, it seemed like a smile of success!

Zhou Bi and other officials looked at Yuan Wei deeply. They seemed to be exchanging glances, as if saying "we have tried our best".

Yuan Wei nodded imperceptibly and said, "That's enough."

Yes!

enough!
Now, led by Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and other Yuan family members, they issued a forged edict, using the six seals of the emperor and the imperial seal, to make the princes of the world think that they were "coming to the rescue of the king" and besieged the capital from all directions.

In the capital, all the officials cried out in opposition, the people complained for Yuan Wei, the grain and salt merchants secretly burned the grain and salt, and there was the final fatal blow - Empress Dowager He might have poisoned Empress Dowager Dong!
Yuan Wei felt that they had done a perfect job and that was enough!

He wanted to see how His Majesty would handle it now? !

Everything else could be ignored, whether it was the siege of the capital by the princes, the people complaining about Yuan Wei, or even the famine that might be caused by the burning of food and salt.

but! !! !!

Empress Dowager Dong was the biological mother of Emperor Ling and Your Majesty's grandmother, while the suspect, Empress Dowager He, was Your Majesty's biological mother and the current Empress Dowager. Your Majesty will absolutely not ignore the fact that Empress Dowager He poisoned Empress Dowager Dong!
Especially in public, in front of the common people, scholars, dignitaries, and criminals like Yuan Wei who are about to be executed, Your Majesty cannot ignore it!
Now it depends on how Your Majesty makes the difficult decision!
If Your Majesty revokes the order, Yuan Wei can make Zhou Bi change his testimony, saying that his investigation was not clear and thus affected the reputation of Empress Dowager He, and he can directly commit suicide on the spot to apologize.

They, the aristocratic families, control the right to speak, and these are all trivial matters!

If Your Majesty insists on having his own way and is unwilling to withdraw his order, and insists on executing Yuan Wei and his entire family and confiscating their property...

Then I'm sorry!

If Your Majesty handles Empress Dowager He, you will be branded as disloyal and unfilial. If Your Majesty does not handle Empress Dowager He, the royal law and the Han law will be treated as a joke!
The upper level will set an example for the lower levels. From now on, from the central government to the local governments, everyone will start to ignore the Han laws!
Will the man who first created clay figures for burials have no descendants? !
As for Your Majesty putting it on hold and giving it a cold shoulder?
With the power of the Yuan family and its allies, and their disciples and former officials all over the world, they will publicize on behalf of Your Majesty and Empress Dowager He that these dirty deeds of the Liu royal family will only bring shame to the Han Dynasty and make the imperial power a joke!
This is a dead end!!!
Your Majesty's only choice is to be a man of insight and revoke the order!
...

This matter is very tricky!
This is true not only for Your Majesty, but also for Zhu Jun, the executioner!

therefore!

The surrounding guards had already stepped forward and surrounded Zhou Bi and others, but they did not dare to act rashly and were waiting for instructions from Zhu Jun, the executioner.

Zhu Jun had to make a difficult decision in his mind. Now, every instruction he gave might lead to a different outcome.

Should we order the arrest of Zhou Bi and other officials? Or escort them to the palace? Or should we temporarily detain them and wait for your majesty's decision?
Any step will lead to different results!

Yuan Wei, who was on the execution platform, sneered in his heart when he saw Zhu Jun acting like this.

This time Zhou Bi's forcing Zhu Jun to abdicate in court will also be a heavy blow to his reputation.

If Zhu Jun fails to do a good job, he will be in a bad position both to His Majesty, to the He family, and to the literati!

This is revenge for Zhu Jun getting involved in this mess!
...

Everyone present had different thoughts.

Although the people felt that the situation was somewhat serious, they could not see the political struggle at all. They did not understand why Zhu Jun did not order the arrest of Zhou Bi and others and investigate the matter thoroughly.

The people didn't even know why Zhou Bi impeached here? Instead of in the palace? In the court? Or even in the government office?
But those educated people and those high-ranking officials understand the political risks and pressures implied therein!

It’s very difficult for Zhu Jun to do this!

This concerns the royal reputation and the honor of Your Majesty!
...

Just when Zhu Jun was making a difficult decision, an accident suddenly occurred.

"Father!"

Zhou Bi's legitimate son Zhou Tong suddenly arrived at the execution ground. Just when everyone was in doubt and Zhou Bi was in disbelief, he suddenly cried out in tears, and said with regret:

"I heard everything last night. You conspired with other officials to try to defame Queen He in order to exonerate the Grand Tutor. You said this was a strategy of 'retreat to advance'!
"You also said that as long as His Majesty thoroughly investigates this matter, the entire family of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei cannot be executed today. If you keep delaying, you can drag the Grand Tutor to be acquitted.

"You also said that if Your Majesty investigates this matter thoroughly, you can make Your Majesty and Empress Dowager He kill each other, and you can spread rumors that Your Majesty is disloyal and unfilial. If Your Majesty does not investigate this matter thoroughly, you will say that Your Majesty is unfair and does not respect Han law.

"You are forming cliques and pursuing selfish interests, and you have no respect for your superiors. I can't stand it any longer!!!

"Father, I don't want to see you lead the Zhou family into an abyss of no return! After a difficult decision, I still think it's time to put justice above family ties and expose your crimes. You are killing yourself!"

...

Zhou Tong's words stunned the whole audience for a moment, and then they suddenly burst into an uproar that resounded through the sky!!!

Everyone didn't know what to say. They looked strange and amused. Zhou Bi's legitimate son came to accuse his father of forming a clique for personal gain. In order to exonerate Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, he openly slandered the current Empress Dowager? !
It turns out that Zhou Bi and other officials, who were so righteous and ready to die, were just pretending to be forming a clique for personal gain? !

In order to exonerate Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, these people are willing to slander the Empress Dowager and even affect Your Majesty's reputation, forcing Your Majesty to make a choice!

This is a capital crime!!!
However, Zhou Tong's choice made many people feel more convincing and reasonable.

Even if this was his own father, would he watch him drag his family and himself into an abyss of no return? !
Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, and Teachers, Your Majesty is more important than our parents!
Of course I would stand up... and sacrifice my own family for the sake of justice!

However, this is simply a great show of filial piety!!!

...

"Shut up, this is not my son..."

Zhou Bi woke up in shock. Although this Zhou Tong looked similar to his son in appearance and figure.

But he is his own flesh and blood after all, and Zhou Bi can clearly hear the difference from his words, actions, and tone of voice.

This is not his son, absolutely not!

Zhou Tong is not so unfilial!

But Zhou Bi's face flushed and he spoke angrily, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Zhou Tong:

"Father, even if you want to sever the father-son relationship with me and absolve me and my family of guilt, it's too late! Stop it, father, and don't continue to help the tyrant!"

"Shut up!!!"

Zhou Bi roared, trying to explain clearly.

But at this time, the Jinyiwei suddenly appeared in large numbers and arrested all the officials including Zhou Bi, including Zhou Tong.

"Zhou Bi's slander against the Grand Tutor, the General, and the Empress Dowager still needs to be thoroughly investigated. Is it that Zhou Bi formed a clique to slander the Emperor, or is there something else going on? We, the Imperial Guards, will get to the bottom of this!"

After saying this, the Jinyiwei did not take them to the imperial prison for interrogation, but directly interrogated them on the spot in the compartment behind the execution platform.

This immediately made everyone present even more shocked and confused!

Is Jin Yiwei crazy? !

At this time, they should be immediately imprisoned for interrogation. Even if Zhou Bi is tortured into confessing, he can still change his statement!
After all, Zhou Bi's son Zhou Tong was willing to sacrifice his own family for the greater good and serve as a tainted witness. Everyone had already believed that these people were forming a clique to exonerate the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei.

As long as they give the investigation results afterwards, everyone will still believe in His Majesty and Empress Dowager He!
But now, the Royal Guards are interrogating behind the execution platform? !

Is this meant to be fair?!

But the question is, what if Zhou Bi refuses to change his confession? What will happen?
Zhu Jun, who was standing on the execution platform, was also in a state of confusion. However, the Jinyiwei was acting on behalf of the emperor, and he had no right to interfere.

Even Yuan Wei, who was on the execution platform, could no longer sit still. His calm expression gradually turned gloomy.

Because Yuan Wei suddenly felt that the situation was out of control!

...

The execution platform and the execution ground are located in a corner of the East Market. Behind it is a row of houses, which belong to the agency under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

It is a place specially used to store props for punishments, including knives for beheading, ropes for hanging, guillotines for beheading, as well as props for skinning, lingchi, quartering, and other punishments.

Because of this, the place is filled with gloomy air, and the occasional sound of the wind is like the haunting of countless executed ghosts. It is said that every night, a hundred ghosts parade here.

It's daunting!
Jinyiwei escorted Zhou Bi and other officials to the scene and interrogated them separately. Zhou Bi and Zhou Tong, father and son, were detained in a room. Before Zhou Bi could interrogate Zhou Tong, he suddenly saw that there was already someone inside!

When he saw this person, Zhou Bi's pupils suddenly contracted!
Because this person's height, body shape, and clothing are exactly the same as his, and even their appearance is 50% similar, just like a brother.

"This, this is..."

Zhou Bi couldn't believe it. He really wondered if this person was his long-lost brother? !

"boom!--"

When Zhou Bi and Zhou Tong were escorted inside, the Jinyiwei tied Zhou Bi up on a rack, while Zhou Tong was released directly. They then closed the door and left, leaving the three of them a chance to be alone.

Zhou Tong, who was originally treated as a prisoner, instantly became a commander, and his voice returned to its original magnetic tone:

"Xuanwu, hurry up!"

Zhou Bi looked at his "son" in disbelief, and said with some trembling: "You are not Zhou Tong? You are really not Zhou Tong?! Who are you?! Where is Zhou Tong?!"

"Let me introduce myself, the commander of the Royal Guards: Suzaku!"

Zhou Tong smiled. Her disguise was put on by Xuanwu, but because the voice was difficult to imitate, she could only cover it up by wailing and crying.

It turns out that the disguise was pretty good!
The reason why the Jinyiwei targeted Zhou Bi and others was that Zhuque was ordered to investigate the grain and salt merchants in the capital and the incident of deliberately burning grain and salt, and finally accidentally found Zhou Bi and other officials.

After the Jinyiwei discovered the conspiracy of Zhou Bi and others, they did not choose to stop it immediately, because they did not know whether the Yuan family had any backup plans. Instead, they took advantage of Xuanwu's disguise and decided to take advantage of the situation to prevent future troubles.

"you you……"

Zhou Bi's body trembled, but there was no time for him to answer. The "Xuanwu" who looked like him had already stepped forward and groped his cheek, body, and every part of his body.

Even their clothes were taken off.

What a shame!
But with his mouth blocked with sackcloth, Zhou Bi’s angry roar could hardly burst out.

Zhou Bi even suddenly discovered that this Xuanwu took out bottles and jars and started applying rouge and powder like a woman.

Gradually, the similarity changed from 50% to 60%, to 67%, to 78%, and finally to a perfect replica of more than 90%, just like he was really his twin brother!

Zhou Bi had no time to get angry. He just stared at the scene with his pupils contracted and eyes dilated, looking horrified. He finally understood many things, such as -

Why would Yuan's ally, the city gate captain Wu Qiong, choose to turn against Yuan Wei in the middle of a battle, abandoning his family and clan, and stabbing Yuan Kui in the back? !
Because that person is most likely not Wu Qiong, but the Xuanwu in front of him, who is in disguise!

"That's enough. It must be very dramatic for my father and I to change our testimony in court! I wonder what expression Yuan Wei will have?"

Zhou Bi was horrified to find that this Xuanwu not only had an appearance and disguise that was exactly like him, but even his voice was a perfect replica!
How can it be? !
How could there be such a strange person in this world? !
"Then let's go..."

'Zhou Tong' stepped forward and covered the head of the "real Zhou Bi" with a black cloth, then smiled and said to the "fake Zhou Bi": "Father and son fighting together! Father, please go first--"

"it is good."

Xuanwu, disguised as the 'fake Zhou Se', opened the door and walked out, followed closely by Zhuque, disguised as the 'fake Zhou Tong'.

In the midst of Zhen Zhouse's fear, only a voice echoed:

"Take him away! Torture him severely!"

"promise!!!"

(End of this chapter)