Those who are good at politics are those who know how to speak.
These people have a basic principle when they speak: they don't tell the truth, they only say things that will achieve their own goals.
Therefore, never believe the words of those who scheme and plot, and don't believe even a single person who speaks in classical Chinese.
This is Zhao Huan's most basic understanding of politics. In his view, every word spoken by every person has a motive behind it, and that motive is to increase their political standing.
The emperor had not heard such direct, even naked, resistance in a long time.
On the contrary, I think that Duke Lu is a little bit more lovable than those who clearly dislike me but pretend to be obsequious to me.
But this did not prevent Zhao Huan from killing him.
In fact, as a time traveler, he tends to be neutral regarding the past of Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Kuangyi. If he had to make a subjective evaluation, he would say that Zhao Kuangyi was ambitious but incompetent, and that he ruined the great land of the Song Dynasty.
Unfortunately, Zhao Huan was a descendant of Zhao Kuangyi.
In other words, the Duke of Lu's statement was correct in terms of both reason and emotion; the throne did indeed belong to their family, and Emperor Taizu of Song was a rare and wise ruler in Chinese history.
But for you to discuss right and wrong with the emperor is foolish in itself.
Or rather, there is no absolute right or wrong in this world.
Now that Zhao Huan is the emperor, all his actions are correct.
If one day, if Duke Lu were the emperor, even if he were licentious and cruel, a large number of officials would still sing his praises.
Zhao Huan looked calmly at the Duke of Lu.
There is actually a lot of information hidden behind Duke Lu's words. For example, more than a hundred years later, he was still thinking about why he had such thoughts.
Did his father tell him?
This means that his father thought the same way.
Who told him his father's idea?
His grandfather!
Therefore, it can be inferred that the lineage of Emperor Taizu has always harbored resentment and always wanted to reclaim the throne.
Zhao Huan then looked at the disheveled Duke of Wei.
The Duke of Wei was a descendant of Zhao Kuangmei, the King of Wei. When Zhao Kuangyi took the throne from Zhao Kuangyin, he promised to pass it on to his younger brother Zhao Kuangmei after he had served as emperor for a while.
Furthermore, Zhao Kuangmei was appointed as the Prefect of Kaifeng, which was equivalent to the Crown Prince!
But instead of passing the throne to Zhao Kuangmei, he was exiled and forced to commit suicide.
What attitude did the descendants of the King of Wei hold towards the descendants of Zhao Kuangyi?
They also felt that the throne should belong to their lineage.
It was Zhao Kuangyi who broke his promise back then!
This sense of discontent has been passed down through generations.
The relationships within the Song Dynasty's imperial family were complex and intertwined. Both the lineage of Emperor Taizu and the lineage of Prince Wei felt that Emperor Taizong's lineage owed them a debt of guilt.
Therefore, they became bolder in their actions to compensate for the imbalance in their hearts.
In the past, emperors turned a blind eye to the behavior of the imperial clan, and some members of the clan became increasingly greedy in this environment.
They never expected that Zhao Huan would directly take up a knife and kill people, and that he would kill several people in one go.
Their belief that "the law does not punish the masses" now seems like a joke.
Zhao Zhongcong shouted angrily from the side, "Lord Lu, you still don't know how to repent!"
"Am I wrong? Back then, Zhao Kuangyi seized our family's throne, forced his nephew to his death, and lost a million elite troops of the Song Dynasty. We were defeated by the Liao Dynasty, making it impossible for the Song Dynasty to move an inch. Back when Emperor Taizu was alive, what a magnificent Song Dynasty it was! Wherever our Song army went, it was unstoppable. The Liao Dynasty was terrified! All of this is your fault!"
Zhao Zhongcong was so frightened that he turned pale.
Duke Lu, you are bringing disaster upon your entire lineage!
"How brilliant Emperor Taizu was!" Zhao Huan suddenly spoke up. "You also know of Emperor Taizu's great talent and strategy?"
"As a descendant of the founding emperor, how can you face him after what you have done!"
Zhao Huan suddenly stood up and calmly said, "If I don't kill you, how can I explain this to my officials and to the people of the world!"
The moral high ground of the Duke of Lu collapsed instantly, and the Duke of Wei was already in despair, no longer daring to utter a single word of deception.
The emperor has even placed the retired emperor under house arrest, killed Prince Su, and Prince Ji is kneeling here.
I am merely a descendant of Emperor Taizu; how could I possibly be closer to him than Prince Su and Prince Ji?
Zhao Huan then said, "According to the clan rules, you deserve to die! According to the law of the land, you also deserve to die!"
After saying that, Zhao Huan shouted, "Go and call Zhang Shuye and Liu Yanzong in!"
Zhao Zhongcong was slightly taken aback: "Your Majesty, what is this?"
Zhao Huan did not answer him. Instead, Zhang Shuye and Liu Yanzong strode in.
"Today, I will let you know that this is not just a matter for the royal family, but a matter for the entire nation! Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners!"
Zhao Zhongcong quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, family scandals should not be aired in public."
"What is there to fear!"
The emperor's voice was powerful and resonant: "The laws of the Great Song Dynasty can punish corrupt officials, and they can also punish criminal imperial relatives!"
Zhao Zhongcong was speechless for a moment.
He finally understood that the emperor needed to use both family rules and the law.
This will establish rules not only for the royal family but also for the entire nation!
The emperor really didn't miss any opportunity to establish rules!
Zhang Shuye said, "Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Great Song Dynasty, Prince Ji, Duke of Lu, and Duke of Wei should be executed, but considering their status as members of the royal family, they should hang themselves."
Liu Yanzong continued, "Your Majesty, the Censorate has opened a case, and all the witnesses and physical evidence are conclusive!"
Duke Lu's face turned ashen, and he snarled, "Zhao Huan, how ruthless you are! You not only want to kill us, but you also want to ruin our reputations! You're using our deaths to enhance your own fame!"
Killing someone is like destroying their spirit; once this crime is made public, Duke Lu and his ilk will be infamous for eternity.
This matter involves a wide range of people, and the Duke of Lu and his few companions are merely the biggest instigators.
To prevent this matter from affecting the dignity of the royal family, Zhang Shuye and Liu Yanzong only filed cases against these few people.
When the information is released to the public, it will only include the crimes of these few individuals.
Other members of the royal family were not mentioned at all.
But that doesn't mean the emperor won't investigate.
Wei County Justice said, "Zhao Huan, we are of the same origin, why did you have to be so heartless as to kill him!"
"You stole our throne, and now you not only want to kill us, but also ruin our reputations! You are heartless! You will die a horrible death!"
Zhao Zhongcong roared, "How dare you! Men, take these traitors away!"
Upon hearing the noise, Imperial Guards rushed in and ordered Zhao Hongyi, Zhao Zifang, Zhao Shuren, and Zhao Xu to be captured.
Zhao Xu looked like a wooden figure, his face haggard and lifeless.
Zhao Hongyi struggled desperately: "I refuse to accept this! I refuse to accept this!"
Just then, a group of people hurried over, their footsteps growing ever closer.
A voice came from outside: "Stop!"
The newcomer was dressed in a long robe, with a slender face and an innate air of wealth and nobility.
The person who came was none other than the retired Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji).
Not only did Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) come, but Zhao Kai (Zhao Kai) also came.
Not only Zhao Kai came, but Empress Dowager Zheng also came.
Not only that, even Zhao Huan's son, Zhao Chen, came.
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