Chapter 9: Assassination and Political Debate
1380 Words
The prison was so quiet. Why were there bursts of sharp, piercing laughter in the air, cutting people's scalps and numbness, as if thousands of ants gnawing at their hearts? Or were jailers in hell laughing as they watched the dead people's skin rot and their lungs burn in the boiling oil pan, like frogs with their bellies bursting? A group of dead things that looked like humans, and a pile of living people that looked like dead things. If they were not dying like stranded fish, the world would have thought they were almost dead; even the poorest beggars looked energetic enough compared to them.
If troubles could really dissipate, why would sorrow still wander around in the world, grinning and seeking revenge on the world?
Someone came to deliver food, and Li Hengshao opened his eyes.
"I'll give you something, and you help me do something, how about that?"
The jailer snorted coldly, "How are you making trouble when you are about to die?"
Li Hengshao took out a bright silver mask from his sleeve.
"The mask of Lanling King Gao Changgong. Dugu Deyin wore it in battle. But they are all dead. If it belongs to you, it will definitely guarantee your wealth and glory in your whole life."
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why should I listen to you?" The jailer looked at the mask carelessly, but he had a plan in his mind.
"Even ghosts and divines want to escape from Imperial City. Hearing the heartbreaking cries of prisoners day and night, are you willing to be imprisoned here?"
The jailer hesitated.
"I will report it to the emperor." He murmured.
As soon as he turned around, Li Hengshao sneered, "You can't leave."
The jailer turned back to find out what was going on, but was pierced through the throat by a long sword and died.
"Your Majesty, I am late in coming to your rescue." Zhong Yun appeared in the prison. "Thanks to you for holding back the jailer. Duke Zhao Hao drank the poisonous wine, and I watched him die."
"Very good. I, Li Hengshao, a descendant of the royal family of Emperor Dezong of Tang, cannot die here."
The two fled together.
"How is Anshi?" Zhao Xu stopped the doctor anxiously, "Is he still ill?"
"Grand Scholarly Sima is taking care of him. The poisonous blood has been drained out, and he is fine. But Prime Minister Wang is still in a coma."
He looked sorrowfully at the unconscious powerful Prime Minister on the sickbed, "Anshi was seriously injured to save me. You must let him recovered."
The doctor nodded.
Sima Guang saw Zhao Xu coming. He didn't have time to greet him, but blurted out a name: "Wen Yanbo..."
Zhao Xu's expression became heavy.
Wen Yanbo was a talented senior official of three dynasties. He had the merit of suppressing Wang Ze's rebellion, and he was quite prestigious in the court. This person was measured in advance and meticulous, who was really difficult to deal with.
In Fuyun Hall.
"Wen Yanbo!" Emperor Shenzong was furious, "You colluded with Duke Zhao Hao and committed corruption! Let me ask you, is this true or not?"
"Your Majesty," Wen Yanbo said calmly, "Do you know why this palace is called 'Fuyun'?"
"Don't quibble!"
"To brush away the clouds that shouldn't be there is 'Fuyun'. If you leave them all, they will become invisible and intangible 'floating clouds', but cover the mountains and rivers of our Song Dynasty with dust."
Emperor Shenzong was so angry that he punched the table, "What grudges do you have against Wang Anshi that you want to kill him?"
"He's blocking my way," Wen Yanbo said with an innocent expression, "Shouldn't I kill him?"
"Aren't you afraid that I will punish you?"
Wen Yanbo laughed wantonly.
"Your Majesty, do you dare? I am a respectful and honorable minister of three dynasties. If you order to kill me, no one in the court will be willing to work for you." He suddenly showed a fierce light in his eyes, "Your Majesty, do you rule the empire with scholar-bureaucrats, or with civilians?"
"How dare you! I am the emperor, I naturally know how to govern the empire! And you," Emperor Shenzong pointed at Wen Yanbo angrily, "relying on your seniority, inciting the people, treating them as tools, just to promote yourself! You are a senior statesman of three dynasties, but you actually do such a mean thing! It's really a waste of reading the books of sages!"
"'All under heaven is the king's land; the common people are all dust.'* They are destined to be trampled under my feet! Your Majesty, do you see it?" Wen Yanbo's eyes were full of madness.
"Wen Yanbo, Liao and Western Xia stood on the land that their ancestors plundered, wearing the clothes that their ancestors used to exploit their subjects, interfering in other countries' internal affairs, and fighting wars to invade other countries. They lacked a sense of security in their hearts. Their countries have been constantly invaded by foreign enemies since their birth, and they are used to being afraid, so they naturally attach great importance to land. " Zhao Xu tried to persuade him, "Behind the extreme complex inferiority is extreme arrogance. They believe that their civilization is the best in the world and no one can compare with it. Therefore, they want to plunder other people's land, despise other countries' culture, discriminate against other people, and kill other countries' envoys! They can't stand the harmony between the emperors of other countries, so they want to destroy the friendship between the monarchs and their ministers! Don't you have the ability to distinguish right from wrong?"
The art of emperor is a trick. Shang Yang of ancient times said: "The way of the emperor is to fool the people first. " The art of the emperor is different from the loyalty of the ministers. It is not practical to have a proud and loyal character. Those who govern have no morality. Those who are virtuous have no politics. Those who are in power should put aside all dignity and integrity and work for the people of the empire. Struggle, fear, honor, wars start from the middle. The essence of human beings is barbarism, violence, mediocrity, and aggressiveness, so they fight without stopping, which is called the Spring and Autumn Period. Politics is a way without moral bottom line and only for survival and safety. It is a ruthless way.
However, the way of power is ruthless, but people are affectionate. How can it be balanced? The reputation and ambition of the literati will eventually be swept forward in the turbulent torrent of the times.
The way of war is also a trick. On the battlefield, there are many cases of people being disregarded for human life. After the defeat of Xiang Yu, the King of Western Chu, at Wujiang River, he committed suicide with his wife Yu Ji. His deep love her, but they were dead. Liu Bang, the first emperor of Western Han Dynasty, escaped Feast at Swan Goose Gate by chance. He survived the disaster and was sure to have good fortune in the future. However, he neglected his wife and favored Lady Qi. He was really heartless and ungrateful. However, it was the way of emperor, not the sorrow way of good people who died for their loyalty.
Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie, was too sentimental and regarded his ministers as brothers. After his appreciation ones passed away, he died of his unfulfilled aspiration. It seems that those who are sentimental cannot live for a hundred years, and those who are ruthless can enjoy a prosperous era for a long time.
"Wen Yanbo," Emperor Shenzong said unwillingly, "I will not kill you. But I will make your life worse than death."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Wen Yanbo stayed where he was, revealing a hideous smile.
Zhao Xu took the note from the guard, "Duke Zhao Hao is dead."
Poisoned to death.
He looked up at the sky, which was covered with dark clouds and rumbling thunder.
It was raining.
Emperor Shenzong heard his own heartbeat, that was so weak and feeble.
*Words from The Classic of Poetry.
- Writer
