Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 213 Don't say things that are detrimental to unity!

Midsummer of the seventh year of Guanghe (583 AD), May 29th

Today's Sanhe Gazette has been delivered to every village, every pavilion, and even every mile in the Sanhe region at an unprecedented speed.

Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, and Dong Zhao strictly ordered all county magistrates and heads to distribute this official gazette to every household on this day, and that a literate person must accompany them to explain it to the people.

Otherwise, they'll be expected to receive a negative evaluation for laziness during this year's year-end performance review.

With such strict orders, administrative officials at all levels naturally cooperated exceptionally well, even neglecting other administrative duties.

"In the midsummer of the seventh year of Guanghe, on the 28th day of the fifth month, the summer solstice, the Crown Prince personally went to the southern suburbs to perform the Great Rain Sacrifice on behalf of the Emperor. The Crown Prince was worshipping the water god Xuanming, and before he could reach Yinglong and the mountains and rivers and all the springs, sweet rain arrived, nourishing all things."

The Grand Sacrificer Zheng Xuan prostrated himself on the ground and proclaimed that the Crown Prince was benevolent and loved the people. The Heavenly Emperor was moved by this and thus sent down a sudden downpour to reward the Crown Prince's sincere love for the people.

After reading the first news item in today's Sanhe Gazette, how could the administrative officials at all levels not understand why their own prefects were so strict?

On a small scale, it's about spreading the name of benevolence and virtue for His Highness the Crown Prince; on a larger scale, it's about building momentum for His Highness the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne!

His Highness the Crown Prince refuted the theory of the interaction between Heaven and Man. Such auspicious omens may not satisfy the Crown Prince, but if the people praise the Crown Prince's benevolence, such an unconventional "auspicious omen" will surely please him.

What's there to hesitate about?

This is an opportunity for Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, and Dong Zhao, three ministers from the Crown Prince's residence, to enter the Ministry. Isn't it also an opportunity for people like them to enter the Ministry?

However, some upright scholars criticized these county magistrates, accusing them of neglecting their duties in order to flatter the emperor, and calling them treacherous and derelict officials.

fart!

Kang Chenggong was a renowned scholar from Dongzhou, a respected elder in the land, and was known for his indifference to fame and fortune. He was certainly not a flatterer!

We are merely imitating the actions of Kang Cheng Gong!
Or do you think His Highness the Crown Prince is not benevolent and is not a wise ruler?
We were merely promoting His Highness the Crown Prince's inherent virtues. Is telling the truth a sin these days?
If this is a sin, then we are willing to bear the consequences!

What? You want to submit a memorial to impeach me? Go ahead!

Oh, you're going to Luoyang to file a complaint with the emperor?
Is there really such a good thing as gaining fame and recognition in front of His Highness the Crown Prince?
Hurry up and go! If you don't have enough travel expenses, the county will cover them for you. No, I will cover them from my own pocket!

However, it is true that someone in Zhongmu County, under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Henan Province, actually did this. County Magistrate Zhang Fen submitted a memorial to impeach Yang Yuan, the Magistrate of Zhongmu County.

Yang Yuan did not offer any explanation, but Ren Jun, the registrar of Zhongmu County, submitted a memorial stating that the county magistrate had merely delayed handling government affairs and had stayed in the office all night that day, so there was absolutely no dereliction of duty!
Of course, Liu Bian was not so incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Henan Yin is a strategically important area near the capital, right under the emperor's nose. It is unusual for the second-in-command of a county in Henan Yin to impeach the first-in-command, while the third-in-command stands on the first-in-command's side to defend him.

The Crown Prince then ordered Jia Xu, the Governor of Henan, to investigate thoroughly. Jia Xu, without any hesitation, directly dispatched embroidered-robed envoys to investigate.

As the governor of Henan, where the capital was located, the Embroidered-Robed Envoys, while not omnipresent, were spread throughout the region, reaching from minor officials in the county to street ruffians, wandering knights, and even taverns and shops.

The discord between the county's top three leaders could not be kept secret from the locals. Within three days, the whole story was compiled and sent to Liu Bian's desk.

Yang Yuan, the magistrate of Zhongmu County, did engage in corrupt practices, but they were not serious. In the corrupt environment of the Later Han Dynasty, he was a rare breed. Moreover, he never neglected his duties and could even be described as diligent in his work.

Ren Jun, the chief clerk, is the eldest son of the Ren family of Zhongmu. He is quite capable, acts with kindness and moderation, and is a person worthy of promotion.

The county magistrate, Zhang Fen, was a complete pedant, a mediocre scholar who indulged in empty talk. He simply disapproved of Yang Yuan's sycophantic behavior and looked down on Ren Jun, who had risen to the position of registrar in the county thanks to the influence of the Ren family of Zhongmu. Well, he simply looked down on the powerful Ren family of Zhongmu, not on the idea that holding a position based on birth was wrong; after all, he himself was a member of the Zhang family of Zhongmu, a gentry clan.

The hierarchy of contempt has long existed: the powerful aristocracy looks down on the lesser aristocracy, the lesser aristocracy looks down on the wealthy clans, and the wealthy clans look down on the common people.

After learning the details of the matter, the Crown Prince took up his pen and wrote an imperial edict in response to Zhang Fen's impeachment memorial, stating: "Do not say anything that is detrimental to unity!"

Then the Crown Prince promoted Ren Jun, just as Dong Zhuo was in Bingzhou and submitted a memorial to the court, requesting the court to appoint a new General of the Liaodong Camp to lead the Liaodong Camp.

The former General Zhou Shen fled in fear of battle during the rebellion of the Southern Xiongnu. Although he inadvertently saved the Duliao camp, he could not escape the crime of cowardice. However, considering his merit in saving the Duliao camp, he was spared punishment and was only dismissed from his post.

Zhang Xun, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, recommended Jia Cong, the magistrate of Jing County, saying that he was familiar with the affairs of the Northern Di and Southern Man tribes. After examination, he was appointed by Liu Bian as the General Who Crosses the Liao River and went to Bingzhou, leaving the position of magistrate of Jing County vacant.

Therefore, Liu Bian transferred Ren Jun from the position of registrar of Zhongmu County to magistrate of Jing County. The reason he was not directly transferred to the imperial court was because Ren Jun was skilled in water conservancy and agriculture.

Ren Jun's talent in water conservancy and agriculture meant that he had to accumulate enough experience in local areas to become a successful person. If he were transferred to the central government, it would be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

After reviewing the memorials for the day, Liu Bian summoned Zhang Hong, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, to a side hall used for resting. Looking at Zhang Hong's slightly haggard face, he couldn't help but ask, "Zigang, why do you look so haggard? Recently, the Minister of Agriculture received the harvest figures reported by various prefectures and counties. Weren't you quite pleased?"

Zhang Hong sighed softly and said, "It was my teacher, the Duke of Puyang, who instructed me to go with His Highness to discuss the abdication ceremony after I finished my duties each day."

Liu Bian was taken aback. Puyang Kai was Zhang Hong's teacher in studying the Book of Rites, so it was no wonder that he was dragged into it.

However, it was precisely because Zhang Hong had studied the Book of Rites under Puyang Kai that Liu Bian specially summoned him to the palace today.

"I can help you with your troubles." Liu Bian rose from his seat and sat down next to Zhang Hong, joining him at the same table. He smiled and said, "I wonder if Zigang would be willing to listen to my words?"

Although His Highness the Crown Prince studied under Lu Zhi, his knowledge of classical texts was not actually profound. He had inherited more of Lu Zhi's ideas on governance. Therefore, Zhang Hong did not think His Highness the Crown Prince had any good ideas.

Ha, if His Highness the Crown Prince had any good ideas, he would have spoken directly to Zheng Xuan, Lu Zhi and others long ago. Why would it be up to him to offer advice?

It was clearly the Crown Prince who had some thoughts that he couldn't express aloud, so he was being used to convey those thoughts.

But since he was the crown prince, Zhang Hong sat on his seat, prostrated himself, and said, "I am all ears."

Liu Bian helped Zhang Hong up, dismissed all the eunuchs and palace maids except Gao Wang, and said in a low voice, "Zigang, the abdication ceremony is not only for ancient emperors, but also exists today."

After saying this, Liu Bian returned to the side hall that served as his office area, giving Zhang Hong no chance to speak.

Zhang Hong stared blankly at the Crown Prince's fleeing figure, his mouth agape, speechless, even with his usually composed nature.

Gao Wang was quite familiar with the personalities of the Crown Prince's retainers. Seeing Zhang Hong's shock, he clearly understood the unspoken meaning in the Crown Prince's words, so he didn't say anything more and turned to chase after the Crown Prince, leaving Zhang Hong sitting there in a daze.

What does "also exists today" mean? Apart from Yao and Shun in ancient times, and King Wuling of Zhao and King Kuai of Yan in the Warring States period, there is only one person who abdicated the throne, a fact that everyone avoids talking about.

That person was named Liu Ying, but people nowadays prefer to call him "Ruzi Ying".

The person who accepted Ruzi Ying's abdication was named Wang Mang!

Is Your Highness going to refer to the abdication ceremony of the traitor Wang Mang?

(End of this chapter)