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

Chapter 96 Amnesty
"A prophecy?"

Liu Ju, however, became somewhat interested.

It is actually a prophecy, but it has been given a mysterious quality.

For example, the nursery rhyme "mulberry bow and winnowing basket" from the Western Zhou Dynasty predicted that Bao Si's misrule would lead to the downfall of the Western Zhou Dynasty. King Xuan of Zhou pursued and killed the couple who made the mulberry bow to break the prophecy, but his son King You of Zhou also caused the downfall of the Western Zhou Dynasty by marrying Bao Si, forming a complete chain of prophetic fulfillment.

During the Qin Dynasty, there was a prophecy that "the one who will destroy Qin is Hu," which led Qin Shi Huang to launch a northern expedition against the Xiongnu. Ultimately, the prophecy came true for Hu Hai.

From ancient times to the Qin and Han dynasties, these prophecies, combined with the theories of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, were often used to explain the legitimacy of political power.

Of course, there are also prophecies concerning individuals.

Mei Gao mentioned the maternal grandmother of the wandering knight Guo Jie, who was known as the first goddess of physiognomy, "Xu Fu".

He was invited by Wei Ao to read the fortune of Wei Ao's daughter, Bo Ji, and predicted that Bo Ji would give birth to an emperor.

Later, Bo Ji became Emperor Gaozu's concubine and gave birth to his son Liu Heng, who became Emperor Xiaowen.

Also during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, Zhou Bo's son, Zhou Yafu, was appointed governor of Hanoi. He asked Xu Fu to read his face, and Xu Fu predicted that he would be enfeoffed as a marquis in three years, become a general and prime minister in eight years, and starve to death nine years later.

Zhou Yafu did not believe it and refuted his words. Xu Fu pointed at Zhou Yafu's mouth and said, "If there is a way to enter the mouth, this is a way to starve to death!" Later, it really came true.

It is said that Xu Fu also read the fortune of Deng Tong, a favorite minister of Emperor Xiaowen, and said that Deng Tong "would die of poverty and hunger".

Emperor Xiaowen said, "It is I who can make Deng Tong rich, so how can he be poor?" So he bestowed the copper mines of Yandao in Shu Commandery upon Deng Tong and allowed him to mint his own coins. "Deng Tong coins" circulated throughout the country, and his wealth reached this level.

When Emperor Xiaowen died, Crown Prince Liu Qi ascended the throne as Emperor Xiaojing, and Deng Tong was dismissed from his post and lived in seclusion at home.

Soon after, someone reported that Deng Tong had secretly gone to the southwestern barbarians to mint coins. Emperor Xiaojing imprisoned Deng Tong for interrogation and found that the report was true. So the case was closed, all of Deng Tong's property was confiscated, and he was still in debt for hundreds of millions of coins.

Princess Guantao bestowed some gifts upon Deng Tong, but the officials immediately confiscated them, leaving him without even a hairpin.

Princess Guantao sent people to provide him with food and clothing so that he could barely make ends meet. In the end, Deng Tong did not receive a single penny and died in the home where he was staying.

What Mei Gao left for Zhang Tang was a "poetic prophecy," but it's unclear whether it refers to the Han Dynasty or Zhang Tang personally.

The Danchi is the red steps in front of the palace. Jiuren means extremely high. Shuangbi represents determining life and death. Tianmen is the road to heaven. Zhumen is the red-lacquered gate of the mansion of the powerful. Huangjinlie seems to say that wealth and glory will collapse in an instant. Sangong is self-explanatory. This "blood steps" means using blood as steps. Liu Ju vaguely felt that this was the true prophecy of the "poetic prophecy".

"Where is the Imperial Censor?" Liu Ju asked Zhang Tang.

"Your Majesty, the poison has penetrated his internal organs; he is already dead," Zhang Tang replied.

He has always been clear-headed in handling cases, and what he hates most are riddle tellers, but what can he care about when someone risks their life to leave a riddle?

He was buried with the rites due to a public official.

Liu Ju thought for a moment, put away the prophecy, and instructed: "There is no need to investigate the matter of identity any further."

"Yes."

Zhang Tang accepted the order and then asked, "Your Majesty, how should we explain the cause of death of the Imperial Censor?"

"The Imperial Censor had long been ill, a fact known to everyone in the court and among the people. In the chilly spring, he fell seriously ill and died."

"This might damage the reputation of Your Majesty."

"It doesn't matter."

"Your Excellency's virtue is truly noble!"

Zhang Tang praised the sacred way.

Liu Ju looked at him and smiled, "Zhang Tang." "Your subject is here."

"Do you know how sharp your edge is, that it makes the officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family of both the Chinese and foreign dynasties tremble in fear?"

"Your subject is slow-witted."

"Officials from both dynasties dared not impeach you for your bloodthirstiness, but only dared to write to me, saying things like 'Spring brings life' and 'A general amnesty.' According to tradition, at the beginning of the year, when the Empress Dowager and I are in power, it is indeed appropriate to grant a general amnesty."

Once the killing spree began in the capital, heads were chopped off in other places as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, and the documents coming from the provinces every day were filled with the stench of blood.

One of the Three Dukes died, three of the Nine Ministers died, and more than a hundred marquises, nobles, and powerful families in Chang'an and other regions died. The number of deaths has already exceeded that of the witchcraft case of that year.

Know when to stop.

"From this day forward, except for those guilty of the ten heinous crimes, a general amnesty shall be granted throughout the land!" Liu Ju issued his first edict.

"I obey!"

Zhang Tang bowed and accepted the imperial edict.

The autumn and winter trials have passed, and those who were truly wicked have all been executed. However, new criminals convicted of treason, rebellion, or filial impiety are not eligible for amnesty. Those who have been pardoned are mostly the "chickens" and stubborn "monkeys" who were used as a warning to others when His Majesty was exploiting everyone equally.

Releasing these people will affect His Majesty's prestige and increase the Supreme Ruler's prestige; one decreases and the other increases, following the natural cycle.

"Starting this year, all prefectures throughout the land shall be exempt from two years of rent and taxation and one year of corvée labor." Liu Ju issued the second edict.

The increase in national assets and the purge of powerful families... all these represent a surge in the imperial treasury's wealth. The Crown Prince's palace treasury has now become the de facto national treasury of the Han Dynasty, holding more than ten million taels of silver, and its value continues to rise rapidly.

Although it was still far from restoring the prosperity of the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, Liu Ju really didn't care about the national tax revenue of 500,000 taels of gold per year.

Rice has ripened thousands of times, but the harvest has rarely gone entirely to the farmers. Now that we live in a prosperous era, we can all benefit from its bounty.

"Your Majesty is benevolent and forgiving!"

"Palace maids aged twenty or older, or unfavored concubines, are permitted by imperial decree to return to their hometowns and marry."

The third imperial edict.

Liu Ju made a move against his father's harem.

The lustful emperor truly lived up to the image of a harem with three palaces, six courtyards, seventy-two concubines, and three thousand beauties. The vast inner palace became the emperor's "uninhibited gathering," with court officials freely moving in and out to entertain. This was not human; it was clearly a paradise for beasts. With the emperor's body subjected to this every day, how could he possibly endure it?

As the crown prince, Liu Juyi felt it was his duty to relieve his father, the emperor, of his burdens and worries.

Zhang Tang's lips twitched. Under this edict, the number of palace maids in Chang'an's Weiyang and Changle Palaces and Ganquan Palace would decrease by 60%, and the number of concubines would likely decrease by 90%!

The court officials have witnessed the immense effort Your Majesty has put into maintaining the prosperity of the harem. With such sudden decline, we earnestly hope Your Majesty will take care of your health.

"Also, thank you for your hard work."

Liu Ju looked at Zhang Tang and thought about the meritorious officials of the Chang'an Incident. In addition to the military generals, civil officials such as the Prime Minister's Office and the Court of Justice should be rewarded. He also did not forget Ji Ren, the garrison commander of Dinglu Gate, who played a crucial role in abandoning the darkness and turning to the light, thus preventing a bloodbath in Chang'an.

Zhang Tang's body trembled, and he couldn't suppress his excitement. Finally, was he about to get what he had been waiting for?
"I would gladly give my life for my lord!"

"From this day forward, you shall be the Imperial Censor."

"Bian Tong, the chief secretary of the prime minister, was promoted to acting minister of the Court of Justice."

(End of this chapter)