Chapter 301 Assassination
The prohibition of alcohol and the grain restriction order caused a great uproar among the people.
But the imperial order cannot be violated, and although they are dissatisfied, they have to obey.
After issuing the edict, the emperor ordered the Ministry of Revenue to take people to Jiangnan to investigate the stolen money and distribute it to various places for grain storage.
After solving this major problem, the emperor breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, Cao Qian's faction said: "This year, natural disasters are frequent and continuous. It must be that the heavens have been angered somewhere. We should go to Tianji Mountain to offer sacrifices to the heavens and pray for blessings to prevent disasters."
This precedent has always existed. Under normal circumstances, winter sacrifices will be held every three years. It is reasonable to add sacrifices this year for natural disasters. The emperor agreed after thinking about it.
Not for anything else, just to calm the people's hearts. Only
when the people's hearts are settled can the country be safe.
Cao Qian said: "This matter should be done sooner rather than later, the sooner the better."
The emperor immediately ordered Qin Tianjian to go back and calculate an auspicious date.
Finally, it was decided to go to Tianji Mountain on July 23.
Tianji Mountain is located outside the southern suburbs and is a royal altar. According to the rules, the emperor would take Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng, a group of princes, and important officials in the court.
After arriving at Tianji Mountain, everyone needs to fast and burn incense for three days, and then hold a ceremony to offer sacrifices to the heaven and pray for blessings, which takes about five days.
If it were normal times, five days would not be a big deal. But Jiang Shu was about to give birth, and Yu Zheng was very worried.
"Offering sacrifices to the heaven and praying for blessings is a big deal, and you can't be absent. Go, my husband, don't worry about me, I'll wait for you to come back." Jiang Shu said in a gentle voice.
Yu Zheng's large hand gently covered Jiang Shu's round belly, leaned in and whispered: "Be good, wait until your father comes back before you come out."
The child moved in the belly, as if responding to Yu Zheng, and it was unclear whether it was a good or bad thing.
Yu Zheng curved his lips and smiled.
Jiang Shu took the opportunity to say: "I don't feel it yet. Doctor Fang said that the fetus is stable, and Nanny Gui also said that she shouldn't give birth in the next few days."
"Well, wait until I come back." Yu Zheng responded slowly.
After thinking about it, Yu Zheng was still worried before leaving, so he asked Yu Lan to stay in the palace for a while to watch over Jiang Shu for him, just in case.
After all, no one can predict the outcome of childbirth.
On July 23, everyone gathered at the palace gate and went to Tianji Mountain with the emperor.
When the procession passed through Chongming Street, the imperial guards opened the way, and the people retreated to the sides, kneeling and bowing, shouting "Long live the emperor".
The emperor sat high in the imperial carriage, sitting upright and accepting the people's bows.
Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng, Prince Rui and others followed closely behind the imperial carriage. Among the several princes, Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng, who walked side by side, were the most outstanding and eye-catching, attracting the admiration and discussion of the people.
"That's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Jing."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to Duanzhou in person, regardless of his own safety, to fight the epidemic with the people of Duanzhou. He is truly kind and loves the people."
"Last year, His Royal Highness Prince Jing traveled to the south of the Yangtze River to supervise the construction of river embankments, investigate corrupt officials, and protect the people with justice."
"Since the Crown Prince entered the court, he has been courteous and virtuous, and has appointed people to the right positions. This is a blessing for the people of Dazhao...
" "His Royal Highness Prince Jing, before he was twenty, personally visited Dazhao on behalf of the emperor and governed with great energy..."
The people looked at Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng from afar, listing their achievements, and they were equally loved.
Under the gazes of the crowd, Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng stood upright, with a serious look, a solemn and awe-inspiring righteousness, which made people respect them.
They are the future and hope of Dazhao.
Such a grand sight is rare to see. The people lined the streets to watch and shouted. The team moved very slowly.
After leaving the city, the speed finally picked up.
The huge team drove across the flat road, turned into the mountain road, and arrived at Tianji Mountain half a day later. The sacrificial officer stationed here and the Minister of Rites who had come here earlier to make arrangements and prepare, led everyone to kneel down to greet them.
According to the rules, the emperor and the princes Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng lived in the quiet courtyard in the back mountain, and the ministers lived in the front courtyard.
The accompanying imperial guards stayed outside the mountain gate and were not allowed to enter the royal altar, let alone step into the back mountain. They could only bring one attendant or guard with them.
The mountain was quiet and cool. After bathing, the father and son wore white robes and burned incense and recited words together.
This act was boring, but extremely pure.
Two days passed in a flash, and Prince Rui and his men could no longer hold on, but fortunately today was the last day.
At night, everything was silent.
The emperor lived in the main house, while Yu Cheng and Yu Zheng lived in the side rooms on the left and right.
At midnight, everyone fell into a deep sleep.
A group of men in black sneaked into the yard, walked along the main house to the right, and poured kerosene around the house.
Yu Zheng was not asleep. He closed his eyes and was awakened by the slightest movement, but did not move immediately.
Zhuiyun and Zhufeng hid in the dark, and seeing that the other party had already started, Zhuiyun quietly left to inform Zhou Boxu.
After pouring kerosene on the house, another group of men in black entered the yard.
Zhufeng, who was hiding in a tall tree, took a quick look and saw another group of people outside the yard, totaling more than a hundred people.
This is determined to kill with one strike.
"Go!" The man in black leading the team waved his hand, and the rest immediately rushed into the emperor and Yu Zheng's house to assassinate them.
"Qiang!" The knife that was slashing towards the bed was stopped by a short sword, and Gao He knelt down on the bed with a gloomy expression.
"Assassination of the emperor and execution of the nine tribes, so bold." The emperor came out from behind the screen in neat clothes, holding a long sword in his hand, and faced the enemy with Gao He.
"Kill!" The men in black stared at the emperor and attacked in groups.
Upon seeing this, Gao He tried his best to protect the emperor, and the two of them moved toward the door of the house while responding.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." The sound of fighting came from the courtyard outside the house, and Yu Zheng, Yu Cheng and others were all fighting hard.
King Rui and others have mediocre martial arts skills, so Yu Zheng asked them to gather together to help each other. He, Zhufeng, Yu Cheng and the bodyguard Yang Quan resisted most of the men in black.
"Bang!" With a loud noise, a man in black smashed the door and fell heavily to the ground.
Then, the emperor rushed out of the house under the protection of Gao He and joined Yu Zheng and others.
"Father...Father." When King Rui and his men saw the emperor, they felt like they had seen their backbone and their courage grew instantly.
King Rui held a sword and shouted: "You bold assassin, you dare to assassinate the king, are you tired of living?"
The men in black ignored him, swarming up with their cold knives, full of murderous aura.
"Your sons will protect your father." The king of Rui and his men clenched their swords and surrounded the emperor.
The emperor glanced at them, looked at the gate to the side and said in a deep voice: "Find an opportunity to get out."
"Yes." The king of Rui and his men responded, protecting the emperor while fighting and approaching the gate.
The gate was guarded by the imperial guards, and it should not be possible for even a bird to fly in, but so many assassins suddenly appeared, obviously an accident.
Yu Zheng and his men fought with all their strength, but there were too many men in black, and they were eventually defeated.
"Master, go first." Zhu Feng held a tiger-head hook and pierced a man in black's chest neatly.
Yu Zheng took the opportunity to cut the neck of a man in black with the soft sword in his hand.
With the thin moonlight, Yu Zheng glanced at Yu Cheng not far away, and saw that the number of people besieging Yu Cheng was obviously much smaller, and most of the people in black rushed towards him and the emperor.
Ha!
Yu Zheng's lips curled slightly, and he sneered.
"Master!" Zhuiyun rushed back and protected behind Yu Zheng.
Yu Zheng looked back and saw Zhou Boxu was already protecting the emperor. But there were too many people in black besieging the emperor, and Yu Zheng said decisively: "Go and protect father."
"Yes." Zhuiyun took the order, and together with Gao and Zhou Boxu, they protected the emperor and rushed out of the courtyard.