The Four Great Cases of Wu Zetian

Chapter 63

After seeing his mother, the prince still remembers the death of old minister Di Gong
But when the king of Luling arrived in Beijing, Duke Di ordered Qiu Wanli to set up a camp outside the city, and together with Yuan Xingchong and Ping'an Zang, came to the Huangmen official's office and asked him to report to the Queen of Wu as soon as possible, saying that the prince would return to the court. Waiting at the noon gate.How dare the officials of the Huangmen be negligent, but Empress Wu cleverly served as a director in the side hall, and immediately made a statement.Wu Zetian heard that it was the prince who came here, and even though he was a very vicious person, he was not without instinct or hair at this time, so he followed the order to enter the palace to see him.The Huangmen official came out and led the three of them into the palace.When the King of Luling saw Empress Wu, he quickly bowed down on the golden steps, burst into tears, and said: "I have been away from my knees for a long time, and I have restless sleep and food. Now that I have been returned to the court, and after I have seen my mother, I beg the sage to forgive my sins and learn from my feelings." After the performance, the crying continued.Seeing this situation, Wu Zetian knew that he was wronged, but he didn't want to admit it to himself, so he had to say: "The lonely family will return from the present to the past, and the past will not be pursued. Since you have returned to the court under the protection of Di Qing's family, and you live in the East Palace with peace of mind, To fulfill my son's duties, the lonely family will make their own decisions." Hearing this, the King of Luling had no choice but to thank his kindness for serving him.Di Gong, Yuan Xingchong, and Jin Anzang returned their orders to pay their respects. After finishing all the tasks, they said in unison: "Now the crown prince is returning to court, and the Holy Heart comforts him. But if the traitor is not eliminated, how can the world be sincerely convinced? The ministers and others are in charge, misunderstood the slander, and turned the fake into the truth. Moderate treachery. At that time, the country was wrong, and the flesh and blood were suspicious. Who is to blame? Xu Jingzong, Wu Sansi and others, if they are not punished according to their crimes, they may be falsely accused by villains in the future , even more than before. The ministers risked their lives to make a statement, and begged His Majesty to make a judgment." At this time, Wu Zetian played for the three of them, and the name was justified. He ordered Yuan Xingchong to be Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and Xu Jingzong asked him immediately, and Wu Chengsi and Wu Chengsi waited until the case was interrogated, and then executed it again." The three thanked En and came out.Since the prince lives in the East Palace.

In addition, Wu Chengsi and Xu Jingzong were frightened every day after they ordered Gao Fa to go to Huaiqing, but they would be fine if they wanted to do this.This day, when I was waiting for a letter at home, I was surprised to hear the sound of a cannon outside the capital city. I hurriedly said, "This is the land of Jifu, where there is the sound of ordnance."When the man came out of the gate, he saw the people all over the street, old and young, all exulting, saying to each other, "This grievance can be redressed. If these three people were not loyal to the country and captured Li Feixiong, the King of Luling would not be able to do it at this time." Returning to the court. Now the front team has arrived outside the city and camped, and they will enter the palace in a short time. Let us wait here so that we can kneel on both sides to meet them." At that time, there was a lot of commotion, and they were busy setting up incense tables in preparation for kneeling.When the man heard this, he still didn't believe it. He saw a horse coming from a distance, and an official galloped over.All the people stopped the horse's head and asked, "Can you come from outside the city? Can the king of Luling enter the city?" The messenger said, "Get out of the way, and you will be here soon." Running home, panting, he said to Wu Chengsi, "It's not good, the king of Luling has already entered the court. The sound of the cannon just now was Di Renjie's brigade camping. Brother Gao Fa must have failed, what should we do about this matter I'm afraid that Di Renjie and others won't give up, and if they find out, they will be found guilty." Wu Chengsi immediately shouted after hearing this, "Di Renjie, why do I have any hatred and enmity with you? I got it and went back. Forget it, I can't do anything with you in this life, and I will meet him in the next life to settle accounts with him." After saying that, knowing that he would not survive, he walked into the study alone, took the medicine and died.When Wu Chengye saw this incident, he knew that he would not be guilty of the crime, so he brought a lot of gold and silver with him, and fled to another place with his family through the back door.Only Wu Sansi refused to escape, and thought to himself: "This Empress Wu is my aunt after all, even if the truth is found out, everything will be blamed on the two of them, and Empress Wu will depend on her natal family, and she will not pursue her."

In the midst of the commotion, there was a noise coming in from outside, saying that many officials and servants in the governor's yamen guarded the front and back doors, that the Ministry of punishment has now released Mr. Yuan, and that Xu Jingzong was dismissed for Li Feixiong's case and brought back to trial.Now Lord Di and Lord Yuan have ordered Xu Jingzong to be taken down, and immediately came to arrest his brother.After hearing this, Wu Sansi was not in a hurry, and sat alone in front of the hall and waited.After a while, Yuan and Di arrived inside, first explained their intentions, and ordered him to go to the Ministry of punishment together.Think twice: "Since the two adults came here according to the order, how dare the lower officials go against the order. But the lower officials really don't know about it. It was the conspiratorial conspiracy between the younger brother and Xu Jingzong. Now they have died in fear of sin, and the sage only ordered the two My lord interrogated, but the family property was not sealed up, and my younger brother died. I can't let his body be exposed, and I don't need to put it in a coffin. Please forgive me for a day. After finishing this matter, I will surrender to the case and wait for pledge. If you are afraid of being dismissed from office, please Just send someone to defend here." Seeing his words, Yuan Xingchong knew that Empress Wu would never put him to death, but at this moment, seeing that Wu Chengsi had committed suicide, he had nothing to worry about, so he had to be humane, and said to Duke Di: "Wu Chengsi is an important criminal. Since he was afraid of crime and took poison, and he told the emperor, please make a decision." At that time, the two still returned to the Ministry of punishment.Here Wu Sansi ordered people to buy coffins and other items, while entering the palace by himself.Seeing Empress Wu, he cried and said: "Wu Chengsi did everything before, and now he is dead. Chengye was afraid that it would affect him, and he fled again. Wu's cigarettes, only myself is left, like a saint looking down on his mother's house." Afterwards, the court will issue a decree to release the amnesty tomorrow morning. Otherwise, both the front and back will die, and they will die in this palace." After saying that, he burst into tears.At this time, Empress Wu thought back to the past, and it was too late to regret, so she had to be allowed to play at that time, and ordered him to go back to collect the successor.

In the early morning of the next day, the decree of amnesty was also issued, saying that although Wu Chengsi had committed a serious crime, he deserved to die.Wu Chengye was at large, so he visited local places along the way to find out.

Think twice before conspiring with him, and Jia En is exempt from discussion.After listening to this play, Di Gong knew that the treacherous ministers could not be punished cleanly, and he deeply hated them.Fortunately, the king of Luling entered the capital, and the flames of treachery have been extinguished, so there is no need to worry about it now.

At the moment, he retreated from the court and rushed to the Ministry of punishment with Yuan Xing, where he was promoted to interrogate Xu Jingzong.Jing Zongzhi refused to go, so he had no choice but to make a direct confession of the matter before and after.Immediately recorded the confession, and played it to the Ming court the next day, and beheaded according to the order.When Di and Yuan came out of the court, they bound Xu Jingzong to Shicao. All the officials in Beijing, as well as the local people and those who had been humiliated, all went to the court to see him before his execution.At three o'clock in the afternoon, the prisoner had arrived, and the yin and yang officials announced the time. The executioner raised his knife and his head was decapitated.When the people saw that his head had fallen to the ground, they all clapped their hands and cheered.Many people came up, you tore the skin, he cut the flesh, within half an hour, the corpse was messed up, and then the family members came to collect it.

Let's say that after Duke Di and Yuan Xingchong were killed, he returned to the court and was appointed Duke of Liang by Empress Wu.All Yuan Xingchong, An Jinzang and others are rewarded for their merits.Li Feixiong wanted to throw himself into the city, and misunderstood the treacherous plot, so that he would not be beheaded and make meritorious service with the crime.All the ministers went to court the next day to thank them.From then on, those treacherous officials were all afraid of Duke Di's prestige and dared not use any more tricks.The king of Luling lived in the East Palace and served Empress Wu every day, doing all he could to think about his filial piety.

Who knows that joy is extremely sad, since Di Gong entered Beijing, he has cut traitors, eliminated sycophants, and tidied up the court. He has never had a moment of leisure.At the age of 71 this year, Empress Wu saw that he was old, and asked one day: "After the Qing family returns for a hundred years, I want to have a good man as a chancellor. Who can I order for civil and military affairs in the court?" There are two people, Su Weiwei and Li Qiao. If you want to take Zhuoluo Qilin, there is Jingzhou Sima Zhang Jianzhi. Although this man is old, he is also a real prime minister. After the death of the minister, he will succeed him, and there will be no mistakes." Empress Wu Seeing such Baozuo, he moved to Luozhou Sima the next day.Unexpectedly, within a few days after Di Gongbao played, he felt unwell.At the third watch of the night, he suddenly passed away without any illness.When all the officials in the court received this letter, they all cried loudly and never forgot their gratitude.Five drums went up to the court, playing the Empress Wu of the Ming Dynasty, and Empress Wu also cried: "After the death of Di Qing's family, the court hall is empty. Who can decide the important affairs of the court? Why is it too early for the heaven to seize the old man of our country!" The Minister of the Ministry issued ten thousand taels of silver and ordered the prince of Luling to pay a memorial ceremony. He was granted the posthumous posthumous title of Duke Wenhui of Liang, and the emperor gave him a memorial service.On the day of returning home, the places along the way will be properly taken care of.Then he ordered Zhang Jianzhi to be the prime minister.

Unexpectedly, those treacherous officials, seeing that Di Gong was dead, had nothing to fear in their hearts, so they reverted to their old ways and thought about treachery again.Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi became more and more unscrupulous.On weekdays, he flattered Wu Zetian, and all the court ministers and cabinet ministers could not see Empress Wu for several days in a row. Although King Luling lived in the East Palace, he was still controlled by such people.Zhang Jianyi sighed one day: "I was known by Di Gong, and I was promoted to prime minister by the governor. I have a high position, and I can't clean up the government affairs. See Duke Di?" One of them thought for a while, and then he ordered Yuan Shuji, Cui Yuanwei, Yan Yanfan and others to come and discuss in the secret room.Yuan Shu said: "I heard that Empress Wu has been ill for several days and can't come to the court, so the two Zhangs are in the middle. If there is an accident, the state affairs are very dangerous, what should I do?" Zhang Jianzhi said: "If you want to get rid of treacherous officials, you must think of a clever plan. Now General Li Duozuo of Yulin Weizuo, this man is quite loyal. Every time he is in the court, he will look sideways whenever he encounters traitors. If he can make a plan with him to get rid of the national traitors, the king of Luling will have no worries " Everyone said hello in unison, and said: "We all know this person, and it is not too late, but you can invite someone here." When Zhang Jianzhi came out, he ordered someone to take a name card, and asked General Li to come here immediately. Negotiate important matters.

At this time, Li Duozuo, just because Empress Wu was ill for several days, and the government affairs were divergent, was bored at home alone, sighing, and couldn't think of a good plan to get rid of Zhang Changzong. " I couldn't help being startled, and then said happily again: "Although he and I have civil and military duties, he is recommended by Di Renjie as the prime minister. Is there any trick to invite me at this time?" Report back at that time, and come immediately.After the family members left, they took sedan chairs to the Xiangfu of Zhang and Cambodia.Yuan Shu, the leader of Cambodia, and others retreated, and one of them was interviewed in the back study in a fine suit.After the two saluted, they exchanged greetings.Seeing his worried face, Zhang Jianzhi said: "At present, the sage is on the top, the prince is still in court, and the old general Chongqing is peaceful. It can be a joy for the ministers. Why is he unhappy and sad? Could it be that the official position of the country is not yet here?" Do you feel sorry for moving?" Li Duozuo saw and asked, knowing how to test him, and said: "The old man is already old, why do you want to move the official and increase the rank? But if you can live in Chongqing as your lord said, even if you die, there will be nothing. Resentment. If you look at it in terms of a beautiful body, except for the failure to serve the state affairs, the rest can be regarded as rich and noble." Seeing that he said this, Zhang Jianzhi also had the same heart disease, and took the opportunity to discuss with him about eliminating thieves.

I don't know what will happen next, let's see the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)