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

Chapter 83 The Three Saints
Snow and frost have accumulated, so we proceed slowly.

The carriage stopped more than thirty paces away from the Prime Minister's residence, and Dong Zhongshu got off.

It was early in the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), and it was already completely dark. Dong Zhongshu stopped in front of the Prime Minister's residence and gazed at the mansion he had visited countless times in his dreams.

The four large red lanterns under the eaves of the mansion gate warmed people's hearts.

The world has changed so much. Twenty years ago, after the Chengming Hall held a test to select virtuous, upright, and outspoken officials, his boastful statement that a great man would eventually rise to the highest position in the court seemed like yesterday.

However, it took him twenty years to walk this short distance of about thirty feet, and he still couldn't reach the other side.

With a heart full of emotion, I arrived at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence. As I climbed the steps, the gatekeeper standing at the entrance asked first, "Are you the scholar?"

Dong Zhongshu could certainly sense the mixture of surprise and scrutiny in his words, and asked with a smile, "Has the Prime Minister gone to sleep?"

"not yet."

"Please announce that Dong Zhongshu has come to pay his respects."

"Please enter the room and wait a moment, Doctor."

Gongsun Hong, wearing a long robe, stood quietly in the study, watching Dong Zhongshu slowly walk in.

"I have met the Prime Minister."

"It's Zhongshu."

When Dong Zhongshu entered the Prime Minister's residence, he had all sorts of guesses and predictions, but none of them came to pass. Gongsun Hong's demeanor was like that of a wise old man who had experienced many vicissitudes of life, calmly greeting an old friend who was about to leave, "It's good that you've come. Sit down and let's talk slowly."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Dong Zhongshu sat down and looked at Gongsun Hong. Gongsun Hong was also looking at him. The two classmates were speechless for a moment.

It was Gongsun Hong who spoke first, "I'm eighty-one, and you're fifty-nine, right?"

"Yes, I am sixty years old this year (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning)."

“The Analects, Book 2, Chapter 1: ‘The Master said, “At sixty, my ear was attuned to the truth.’ This signifies that your cultivation has matured and your merits have been perfected. Zhongshu, you have succeeded.”

"To hear something and understand its subtle meaning is called 'hearing with an ear at the right time,' sixty is the age of sixty, the age of sixty when one can still walk with a cane..."

Dong Zhongshu smiled and said, "...Does the Prime Minister mean that I have reached the age to return to my hometown and should leave?"

"You always know so many profound truths and have so many insights, but you and I are both now with white hair, we're old enough to grow old together, so how could I possibly have so many profound thoughts?"

Dong Zhongshu gazed at Gongsun Hong's aged face, "Prime Minister, four years ago, it was you who recommended me to serve as Prime Minister of Jiaoxi..."

"I am a despicable person."

Gongsun Hong responded frankly, saying, "I only started learning the Gongyang Commentary when I was forty years old. My knowledge of the classics is far inferior to yours. Therefore, I rose to the position of minister by flattering His Majesty in the outer court."

You, however, gained His Majesty's favor in the Central Plains through your genuine talent and learning.

You look down on me, and I don't like you either. So when His Majesty was dissatisfied with your talk of calamities, I advised His Majesty to send you to the extremely dangerous Jiaoxi Kingdom. This would not only keep you away from Chang'an, but also allow me to use you as a tool to kill someone.

"Thank goodness you didn't die..."

“Someone has died,” Dong Zhongshu interrupted him. “The one who handed over the policy of granting favors, Zhu Fuyan, died at your hands.”

During his three years in Jiaoxi Kingdom, he faced countless assassination attempts from the King of Jiaoxi. No one knew how he survived, not even himself. Only when he looked back at the road he had come from did he realize how far he had come, and he finally had the opportunity to serve the Crown Prince and escape when the latter was troubled by the issue of orthodox legal principles.

In a sense, the two were mortal enemies.

After another silence, Gongsun Hong sighed, "Yes, someone died by my hand."

In this life-or-death power struggle, many people died at his hands, while others survived because of him. There was no right or wrong, only different positions.

Gongsun Hong admired Dong Zhongshu's scholarly air and felt at ease with him, knowing that someone so vengeful could not possibly become a threat.

"Zhongshu, what brings you here?"

"By order of His Majesty, I inquire when the Chancellor will return to his hometown," Dong Zhongshu said.

He had to admit that Gongsun Hong's political skills were unmatched by anyone in China and Korea.

No matter what kind of conspiracy or trickery was used, it would be difficult to bring down this commoner prime minister.

They're all from the Gongyang family, and their tactics are the same. With His Majesty's power weakened today, it's unlikely that he can bring down Gongsun Hong.

Then the only option is for Gongsun Hong to leave voluntarily.

Gongsun Hong hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have no intention of retiring; I wish to remain in office until the end of my life."

"Your Majesty wishes to ensure the continued wealth and prosperity of the Marquis of Pingjin's estate."

It was quite remarkable in the eyes of the officials of the central court that a harsh and ungrateful monarch could offer such conditions.

But in Gongsun Hong's eyes, it seemed somewhat ridiculous. His Majesty could barely protect himself, yet he promised another's family lasting wealth and honor. Even if he didn't have the promise of a crown prince, he couldn't trust His Majesty's reputation.

"Here is His Majesty's edict." Dong Zhongshu took out the imperial edict, which simply stated: "If there are any inconveniences, please consider the expedient means."

Although it is not explicitly stated that "the death penalty can be waived", the general idea is as described.

This time.

Gongsun Hong could no longer laugh.

But it wasn't excitement, it was terrification.

He witnessed Dou Ying's death firsthand. Dou Ying, Guan Fu, and Tian Fen had fallen out, and Dou Ying was imprisoned by Tian Fen for using a pretext against him. In order to save Guan Fu and himself, Dou Ying revealed that Emperor Jing of Han's edict was hidden in his home.

This thing, which should have been a source of salvation, ultimately led to the extermination of Guan Fu's clan, and Dou Ying was also executed along with his entire clan for "forging a will."

Because there was no record of the edict in the Ministry of Personnel.

According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, imperial edicts must have one original and one copy, and must be archived. An imperial edict without a copy for archiving is considered a forgery.

After Dou Ying's death, there were many speculations in the court and among the public, but they were basically of three kinds: first, Dou Ying forged the document; second, Emperor Jing of Han did not keep the records; and third, the records of the Shangshu Office were destroyed.

The first possibility is unlikely. Dou Ying used the late emperor's edict to save himself, not to risk the lives of his entire clan.

The third possibility is also unlikely. Although Empress Dowager Wang and Prime Minister Tian Fen were powerful at the time, they were not powerful enough to destroy the late emperor's edict.

The second possibility is the most likely: the will was not archived.

There are two possibilities: either Emperor Jing of Han forgot to save the data, or Emperor Jing of Han deliberately did not save the data.

It's hard to believe that Emperor Jing of Han forgot to archive such an important edict. If he deliberately failed to archive it, it's as if he dug a pit to bury Dou Ying and the entire Dou clan.

In short, apart from the imperial edicts issued by the Liu family to the entire country, the others should not be trusted.

Especially the secret edict. This was not a get-out-of-jail-free card for Gongsun Hong, but rather a death warrant for the Gongsun family.

Your Majesty wants him to see through the illusions of honor and disgrace, yet you lack even the most basic sincerity. Your Majesty is truly impolite.

Gongsun Hong's face remained calm. "Doctor, it's late."

Dong Zhongshu was asked to leave the Prime Minister's residence.

Just as Dong Zhongshu was walking back to his carriage in disappointment, he saw an unexpected person and immediately showed joy. The person said, "This young man greets the Doctor!"

……

In early January, as the ice and snow melt and the spring waters surge, the Wei River becomes exceptionally wide, with glistening white ice floes faintly visible amidst its blue waves.

Officials from both the Chinese and foreign dynasties repeatedly urged Empress Wei to assume the regency, but Wei Zifu declined repeatedly. She then formally took over the administration of the state and moved to Changle Palace.

From then on, Weiyang Palace, Changle Palace, and Crown Prince's Palace stood side by side, and the three emperors held court.

However, the emperor was not in Weiyang Palace, and the crown prince's palace had not yet been built. As the central authority of the empire, the one who truly oversaw state affairs was Empress Wei Zifu.

When the news spread, the anxiety and unease felt by the people throughout the empire that year suddenly dissipated considerably.

The nobles, marquises, and members of the imperial clan who had been wavering between the emperor and the crown prince all turned to Empress Wei.

Many court officials felt a sense of familiarity, just like when Grand Marshal Wei Qing was highly meritorious and His Majesty promoted Commandant Huo Qubing, a large number of court officials became the Empress's ministers.

Changes within the military ultimately have limited impact, but changes within the entire court have far-reaching consequences.

The Wei family, as maternal relatives, officially came into the public eye, especially the husband's family of Wei Zifu and Wei Qing's elder sister, Wei Junru. Gongsun He, one of the Nine Ministers of the court, and his son Gongsun Jingsheng, were particularly active in the court and among the people.

In the Xuande Hall of Changle Palace, Empress Wei Zifu presided over the court for the first time and held a court discussion.

She also issued her first decree, the calculation of wealth and the reporting of wealth.

What is a "缗"? In this dynasty, a thousand copper coins were often strung together with a thread, and a thousand coins were called a "缗".

The tax called "Suanmin" was a property tax levied in units of "suan" (a unit of currency). It was applied to all merchants, regardless of whether they had city registration. The government required them to estimate their operating costs and convert them into "suan" (a unit of currency). Merchants had to pay one "suan" for every two thousand "suan," and one "suan" was one hundred and twenty "suan," with the tax amounting to 0.6%.

However, prior to this, the new decree of the Crown Prince regarding vehicle and vessel taxes had already brought commercial taxes to 30% of profits. As a result, the actual commercial taxes for wealthy merchants reached 36%, truly exceeding one-third.

The Crown Prince abolished the vehicle and vessel tax for ordinary people and merchants, and then returned in this way.

In order to prevent the business community from engaging in deceitful practices, concealing their assets, and failing to report truthfully, a petition was attached.

If a merchant fails to report or does not report his or her assets truthfully, she will be sentenced to one year of border service and all her operating costs will be confiscated. At the same time, people are encouraged to report each other, and if a report is successful, the person who reports the other will receive half of the confiscated assets.

When Liu Ju learned of the Empress's decree, he immediately realized that it did not come from his mother.

This must be related to his uncle Gongsun He and his son, as well as the emperor of Ganquan Palace.

The emperor influenced his mother through Gongsun He and his son, continuing the exploitative and unsustainable exploitation of the poor.

Most of the time, condoning whistleblowing is a form of lazy governance and an extremely evil system, as it shifts the responsibilities and obligations of the court to unrelated ordinary people.

More importantly, this could become a tool for political struggle, unleashing the evil in human nature to create non-existent hostile relationships between people, thus turning everyone into a monitor.

The method of calculating wealth was originally intended for merchants and lenders, but Liu Ju had no doubt that it would become a means of controlling the property of almost every family.

Since whistleblowing is profitable, anyone with a bit of wealth will be targeted. Local officials, once they receive a report, are more likely to confiscate the money than to care about the defendant's identity.

The money obtained from the calculation and reporting of wealth did not go to the Shaofu (Minister of the Imperial Household Department) or the Zhisu Neishi Shu (Directorate of Grain Administration), but went to the Chang Le Shaofu, which was the Empress's Shaofu.

The person in charge of calculating the amount of money was a cruel official named Yi Zong, who was the brother of the female imperial physician Yi Shuo. Yi Shuo had the good fortune to be recommended by the Queen Dowager and was appointed as a Zhonglang (a military officer) and then sent to Shangdang County as a county magistrate. He was strict in his administration and had an outstanding political record. He served as the magistrate of Changling County, the magistrate of Chang'an County, the Commandant of Henan, and the Prefect of Nanyang. He acted in accordance with the law, did not shy away from powerful people, was skilled in killing, and severely cracked down on powerful landlords.

He was transferred to be the governor of Dingxiang Commandery. In one day, he executed more than 400 people, which was known throughout the land. The people were terrified. He was later promoted to the position of Zuo Fengyi.

This man replaced the cruel official Zhou Yangyou and served the emperor.

The presiding officer for the announcement of the death of a person was none other than Gongsun He and his son Gongsun Jingsheng.

With his mother assuming regency, the court in Chang'an underwent significant changes, but Liu Ju foresaw the fates of his uncle-in-law Gongsun He and his cousin Gongsun Jingsheng.

The word "accuse" implies power, and behind it lies countless riches.

Wealth, land, mansions, servants... there's always something that can tempt your uncle or cousin.

Once you fall in love, your death is imminent.

"The Prime Minister's Office shall announce to all counties and prefectures that the matter of reporting money shall be limited to merchants and shall not involve others."

Liu Ju drew a line in the Empress's decree: "In addition, give my uncle a decent living."

Liu Ju was a man who valued family ties and was protective of his own, but he didn't protect every child he had.

My maternal uncle, Gongsun He, was from Yiqu in Beidi Commandery. His ancestors were Hu people. His father, Gongsun Hunxie, served as the Director of the State and the Prefect of Longxi during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han.

In the third year of Emperor Jing's reign (200 BC), the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu broke out. Gongsun Hunxie participated in suppressing the rebellion and made meritorious contributions. In April of the sixth year of Emperor Jing's reign (200 BC), Emperor Jing rewarded five people who had made meritorious contributions in the fight against Wu and Chu. Gongsun Hunxie was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingqu.

In April of the seventh year of Emperor Jing's reign, Liu Che, the King of Jiaodong, was made crown prince. Subsequently, the young Gongsun He was selected as a retainer of the crown prince because of his meritorious service in the army and his status as the son of the Marquis of Pingqu.

From then on, my uncle was deeply trusted by the emperor and rose to the position of Grand Master of the Palace. He received a total of over a thousand gold pieces in just a few days, and strictly speaking, he belonged to the emperor's faction.

In the previous dispute between the father and son of the imperial family, Gongsun He and his son acted very ambiguously, and Liu Ju did not take it to heart.

In retrospect, not being loyal is the same as being absolutely disloyal.

Rather than waiting for Gongsun He and his son Gongsun Jingsheng to cause a major disaster and be used as an excuse by his father, Liu Ju wanted to deal with these so-called "Wei clan relatives" first.

In Liu Ju's eyes, there were only two relatives of the Wei family: his maternal uncle Wei Qing and his elder brother Huo Qubing. As for the others, if they were law-abiding, that would be fine, but if they were not, they would be punished the same as commoners.

"Yes." Zhang Tang, as an envoy from the Prime Minister's office, came to the Northern Army to meet the emperor and respectfully accepted the order.

He didn't care about the decree on calculating and reporting wealth, but he was very unhappy about the antics of Gongsun He and his son Gongsun Jingsheng in the court. For so long, who didn't know that court discussions were Zhang Tang's domain?

Even His Majesty's brother-in-law or the Emperor's uncle-in-law cannot steal his thunder.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with those envoys who go to the local areas to oversee the collection of taxes and fees?"

"Instruct all counties and prefectures that anyone who dares to make false accusations or implicate others, other than merchants, be arrested."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhang Tang readily accepted the order, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, the court and the people are gradually warming up. His Majesty intends to marry Princess Pingyang to the Grand Marshal, and Princess Zhuyi to... Marquis of Champion, so that the two rulers can be related by marriage."

In an instant, Zhang Tang realized that the emperor's aura had changed.

(End of this chapter)