A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 312 Music Playing
The emperor abdicated and issued a decree to the whole country.

In the course of their conversation, the court and the public were abuzz with excitement, which spread throughout the capital region and across the entire country.

The countless ordinary people were all overjoyed.

His Majesty has finally come to his senses.

Blessed.

The wealthy family was filled with emotion.

The crown prince is going to be emperor.

So sad.

The Crown Prince's courtiers were overjoyed.

The moment to advance has arrived.

So happy.

The emperor's cronies were as if they had lost their parents.

The executioner's blade is about to fall.

Alas.

The Chang Le Palace was reopened.

News has spread that His Majesty's health is gradually improving.

Almost instantly, the last cruel officials of the Han Dynasty, Guan Duwei Yin Qi, Lou Chuan General Yang Pu, and Xiu Yi Imperial Censor Du Zhou, requested an audience.

Inside the Divine Dragon Palace.

Upon hearing the voices of Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou, Liu Che showed neither joy nor sorrow.

Court officials were permitted to have an audience.

The Empress and the Crown Prince's intentions were nothing more than to reveal the "truth," and there was no coercion involved in the abdication.

Everything stems from the emperor's own heart.

The imperial family is filled with utmost filial piety and sincerity.

He is a role model for his subjects.

Liu Che suddenly laughed out loud, "What a good empress, what a good crown prince, what a clever scheme!"

"Your Majesty?" Chun Tuo asked with some concern.

Liu Che waved his hand, indicating that the matter was settled and his abdication would not be reversed. "Summon him for an audience."

Now that the stage has been set up, for everyone's happiness, the play must continue.

"Yes."

Chun Tuo left the palace.

Upon entering the hall again, Yin Qi and Yang Pu rushed out from behind him, kneeling down as they ran and sliding to the imperial steps.

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!"

The shouts of Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou grew louder and louder, as if they came from the depths of their hearts.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Che asked, looking at them knowing the answer already.

Over the years, he has employed approximately ten notorious cruel officials: Ning Cheng, Jian Xuan, Zhou Yangyou, Wang Wenshu, Yi Zong, Zhao Yu, Zhang Tang, Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou.

Ning Cheng forged travel documents to return to his hometown, acquired vast amounts of land, amassed tens of millions in wealth, and employed thousands of poor families. His power and influence surpassed that of the prefect. When Ren Yizong was appointed as the prefect of Nanyang, he investigated and dealt with the Ning family, resulting in the extermination of Ning Cheng and his entire family.

Jianxuan and Suozhong both came from Wei Qing's staff. After being plotted against and having their benefactor harmed by the Northern Army, they resigned and returned to their hometown in despair. Later, when Yi Zong proposed the "Shen Ming Law", they bravely shielded the enemy from an arrow. While at home, they were killed by the Crown Prince.

After investigating corruption within the Northern Army, Zhou Yangyou was accused by Zhang Tang of tyrannical rule and oppression of the people. The court sought to implicate the Han emperor, revealing his own embezzlement. Zhou Yangyou, along with his entire clan, was beheaded and his heads displayed publicly. When Wang Wenshu was the governor of Nanyang, he arrested and killed over a thousand powerful and cunning families, causing bloodshed for over forty li. During this time, he fostered greed through cruelty, accepted bribes from officials, and committed numerous acts of corruption. His family was so corrupt that the crown prince initiated the extermination of five generations of the Wang clan.

Yi Zong was not afraid of powerful and influential people and was skilled in killing. He severely cracked down on wealthy families. However, when Chang'an was vulnerable, he was secretly ordered to raise an army with Li Ju of the Li family in Longxi to restore the throne. He plotted to rebel against the crown prince. Not only did he fail, but he was also convicted of treason and regicide and punished for the restoration. Both Yi and Li families were buried alive.

Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang, due to their high positions and early allegiance to the Crown Prince's palace, not only escaped punishment but also gained undeserved achievements and official positions. In this reform of the court system, Zhao Yu became the Minister of Revenue, and Zhang Tang retired with the titles of Grand Censor, Junior Tutor, and Marquis.

Some died, some were promoted, and some retired. At this moment of abdication, the most embarrassed and fearful people were none other than Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou.

When a new emperor ascends the throne, he usually kills some people first and then lets many more go. Killing some people is to eliminate trouble, while letting many more go is to win people's hearts.

Moreover, killing first and then releasing can have a better deterrent effect, encouraging good people to continue doing good and deterring evil people from doing evil.

Clearly, Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou are all people the Crown Prince is determined to kill.

Even the Yin, Yang, and Du clans would be wiped out.

But it's not unfair.

When Zhang Tang was the Minister of Justice, he often praised Yin Qi for his integrity and decisiveness in governance, and ordered him to be in charge of capturing thieves.

Yin Qi enforced the law without fear of the powerful and wealthy, and was promoted to the position of Commandant of the Pass for his meritorious service in catching thieves. His predecessor, Ning Cheng, was known for his harshness. Those who entered and exited Tong Pass commented, "I would rather see a tiger cub than face Ning Cheng's wrath," showing their fear of Ning Cheng.

After Yin Qi took office, his reputation for harshness was "even greater than that of Ning Cheng".

In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the princes of Guandong repeatedly plotted to resist the imperial court, and local powerful families attempted to seize the opportunity to establish their own independent regimes, posing a serious threat to the central government. In order to strengthen the central government, in addition to adding eight colonels, the Qimen Army, and the Yulin Army to the central standing army, the court also specially established the Louchuan Army. Yang Pu was the Louchuan General who was sent to Guandong to supervise it.

As an angel, Yang Pu acted like a mini-emperor as soon as he arrived in Guandong. He indulged in lust, became arrogant, lost his mind, and did evil. It can be said that he did everything except human affairs.

As for Du Zhou, among his ten cruel officials, Du Zhou was the most outstanding.

Du Zhou was originally a clerk who gained benefits by currying favor with his superiors. He was recommended to Zhang Tang and promoted to the position of Court Clerk.

Like Zhang Tang before him, he always followed the orders of his superiors when it came to doing things.

He deliberately reduced the sentences of those whom his superiors favored, and he attacked those whom his superiors disliked. During his tenure as Minister of Justice, the number of subjects imprisoned increased significantly, and the time spent in prison was also extended.

In the case of Chen Ajiao's witchcraft, Zhang Tang targeted wealthy families for implication, while Du Zhou implicated those below him, using the charge of "treason" to implicate many people. The number of people arrested in the prisons under the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice and the capital government reached as high as 60,000 to 70,000. With the addition of arbitrary implication by law enforcement officials, the number of people implicated reached more than 100,000 at its peak.

After taking office, Du Zhou did not forget to promote his sons. His two sons became important officials in the counties on both sides of the river. They were vicious and greedy.

It is said that Du Zhou's youngest son, Du Yannian, is unlike his father and elder brother, being kind, mature, and steady, quite unlike his father.

As Liu Che thought of this, he felt a slight pang in his heart. He was not unaware of what was going on in the world, nor was he incapable of changing it. So why was he unwilling to do so at the time?

Alcohol and sex are harmful to people.

From today on, quit drinking!
Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou felt a chill run down their spines.

Your Majesty, are you unwilling to rescue them?

"We...we've come to visit His Majesty."

Yin Qi's lips trembled, and his throat choked with emotion, "Your Majesty, aren't you lonely?"

"Visiting? Loneliness?"

Liu Che laughed, but the laughter faded as he asked, "Why didn't you do this earlier?"

Apart from Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang, Ning Cheng, Jian Xuan, Zhou Yangyou, Wang Wenshu, and Yi Zong can all be said to have died for or because of this emperor.

What about Yin Qi, Yang Pu, and Du Zhou?

These three were not among those who responded to the restoration earlier. When Zhang Tang was at the height of his power, he protected them, which gave them the illusion that the Crown Prince and the court had let them go.

Zhang Tangrong is now retired and only came to him for help after realizing the crisis.

"His Majesty……"

Yin Qi wanted to say something more, but Liu Che shook his head and said, "Go, go, someone is waiting for you."

Startled, he turned around and saw Chen Mo, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, leading his men to wait outside the hall.

"Commander Guan, General of the Warships, Imperial Censor in Embroidered Robes, your names are on the list."

(End of this chapter)