Zhao Huan sat on the throne and said softly, "Read it."
The eunuch beside him immediately proclaimed the imperial edict: "By the grace of Heaven, I have decreed that the Jurchen invaders have marched south, and Li Bangyan, as Grand Chancellor, has shown utter fear of the Jurchens, thus disgracing the integrity of the Great Song Dynasty. He is hereby stripped of his position as Grand Chancellor, dragged to the Meridian Gate, and executed immediately! So be it!"
The imperial edict shocked the court officials.
Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, no civil official has ever been killed. The most serious punishment was exile, let alone publicly announcing a killing in the court, especially when the Grand Chancellor was killed.
And to be beheaded for just making a suggestion? Isn't that a bit too frivolous?
The ministers thought this way, but Zhao Huan did not. In his view, Li Bangyan's peace negotiations were nothing short of paying reparations, ceding territory, and selling out the country!
Those who betray their country should be executed immediately. Are we supposed to treat them like royalty?
Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, our dynasty doesn't have a Meridian Gate! What the hell is a Meridian Gate?
"Your Majesty, you must not!" It was Wang Fu who spoke. It wasn't that Wang Fu had a good relationship with Li Bangyan and wanted to save him. On the contrary, Wang Fu and Li Bangyan were enemies. Wang Fu had just stood up and proposed peace talks. If Li Bangyan were to be killed, wouldn't Wang Fu also be guilty?
Tong Guan, who also advocated for peace talks, took a deep breath and feigned composure.
Wang Fu said, "The Holy Emperor is above all. Since the time of our ancestors, no scholar has ever been killed. We do not wish to break this precedent starting with Your Majesty."
Zhao Huan said firmly, "You are overthinking it. Let's start by making an exception for myself!"
“We, your subjects, are loyal to the emperor and the country, and would give our lives for them. Grand Chancellor Li’s proposal to negotiate peace is also for the sake of the common people of the Song Dynasty and for the peace and prosperity of the Holy Emperor’s country. The Holy Emperor has just ascended the throne and yet he wants to kill loyal ministers. This is the way of Jie and Zhou, and it is unacceptable!”
Zhao Huan stared straight at Wang Fu, keenly sensing the deeper meaning behind Wang Fu's words.
Wang Fu was definitely not a loyal and virtuous person, nor was he one who dared to offer advice.
When Zhao Huan first ascended the throne, the court was full of former officials of Emperor Huizong of Song, especially Wang Fu, Li Bangyan, Cai Jing, and Tong Guan, who were later known as the "Six Traitors of the Northern Song Dynasty." These people all supported Emperor Huizong, even though Emperor Huizong had now abdicated.
Therefore, they dare to act so recklessly in the imperial court because they have powerful backers.
According to later historical records, Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, did indeed kill Li Bangyan, but that was only because of the circumstances and when all else had to be done. He also exiled Cai Jing and beheaded Tong Guan.
However, in Zhao Huan's view now, all that was done was not enough, far from enough.
He wanted Li Bangyan dead right now! He wanted Cai Jing to be ground to ashes immediately; he couldn't wait even a day longer!
Zhao Huan stood up and roared, "Minister Wang, what a fine example of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, what a fine example of fighting for the dawn of the world! Where have you been?!"
Censor-in-Chief He Ye quickly stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"
"read!"
He also said, "In the second year of Xuanhe, the rebel Fang La in Muzhou rebelled. Wang Fu covered up the truth and failed to report to the court, which allowed the rebel army to expand and capture six prefectures. The late emperor sent Grand Tutor Tong with 100,000 troops from Qin to quell the rebellion. Wang Fu was still promoted to Junior Tutor and then Junior Preceptor for his merits! Wang Fu is guilty of deceiving the emperor!"
In ancient times, people addressed each other by their courtesy names; to call someone by their given name was considered disrespectful.
He Ye addressed Wang Fu by his given name at this moment, and the meaning was very clear: I'm going to kill you!
"In addition, Wang Fu abused his high position and power to commit wicked acts, amassing numerous children and riches for his own pleasure. He seduced and seized the concubine of Deng Zhigang, a scholar-official of the Huizhou Pavilion, and instead convicted Deng Zhigang, exiling him to Lingnan. Later, Wang Fu was promoted to Junior Guardian and Grand Chancellor (Left Chancellor), and he petitioned to establish the Bureau of Imperial Sacrifices, serving as its director. He was allowed to use all the money in the country at will, exhausting the nation's resources to supply the Bureau. He extorted all the rare and precious products from the land and water of the four directions from the people, yet less than one-tenth of the precious items were presented to the late emperor; the rest all went to Wang Fu. Censor Chen Guoting requested the abolition of redundant officials who used the guise of imperial summons, and Zhang Rulin, the transport commissioner of Jingxi, requested the abolition of the tribute of flowers and fruits from the western route. The late emperor had adopted these requests, but Wang Fu impeached both of them, and both were exiled to remote prefectures. Wang Fu is guilty of corruption, bribery, arbitrary power, framing loyal officials, and oppressing the people!"
After listing several major crimes, He Ye added another: "Just now, Wang Fu also spoke of negotiating peace, which is an insult to the integrity of our Great Song Dynasty. He should be executed immediately!"
After the Imperial Censor finished speaking, Wang Fu glared angrily at He Ye and said, "Imperial Censor He, you are spouting nonsense! How dare you insult me, the Prime Minister!"
"Your Majesty, why do you harbor such treacherous intentions? I am innocent!"
Zhao Huan, however, had a grim expression and stared straight at Wang Fu, saying, "Read it!"
The eunuch on the side seemed to be intimidated by Zhao Huan's imposing manner, trembling slightly. He immediately took out a second imperial edict and loudly read: "By the grace of Heaven, I have found that Prime Minister Wang Fu has been corrupt, deceiving his superiors and oppressing the people, and levying exorbitant taxes! He shall be executed, his family property confiscated, and his entire clan exterminated!"
"Ah!" Wang Fu's face turned ashen instantly.
"Your Majesty! No! Your Majesty! Since the founding of our dynasty, we have never killed any scholar-officials, let alone exterminated their entire families. Your Majesty, please do not commit the tyranny of Jie and Zhou!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
All the officials knelt on the ground, and except for Li Gang and He Ye, they all shouted in unison.
Li Bangyan and Wang Fu's expressions instantly returned to normal. They thought to themselves, "We are former officials of the retired emperor, and we have controlled the government for decades. How can a new emperor kill two prime ministers on the very second day after he comes to power? Isn't that absurd? Even if you issue an imperial edict, the entire court will oppose it, and you will have no choice but to withdraw your order!"
"Xie Dahai! What are you waiting for!"
Xie Dahai was overjoyed. In the past, these officials had extremely disliked the Imperial City Guard and had repeatedly advised the Emperor Emeritus to abolish it, calling them a black sheep. Xie Dahai had long been annoyed with them.
Immediately, several guards from the front hall grabbed Li Bangyan and Wang Fu and twisted them like chicks.
"Grand Tutor, save me!"
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