Chapter 268: Lord Zhao, help!
Three months!
In just three months, the ferocious founding heroes devoured the King of Yan alive. The most terrifying thing was that many of the subjects of Yan not only did not want to resist, but even sold out the King of Yan directly.
The changes in people's hearts are like flowing water, different every moment. Too many people are tired of endless wars.
Especially the broken ship of the Prince of Yan that looked like it was about to sink. The Emperor of Han went out to fight without even bringing Han Xin with him. This was the utmost contempt. Even if Liu Bang was defeated, so what? With Han Xin leading a large army, who in the world could stop him?
Except for a very small number of die-hard fans, no one wants to wait for death there.
Yan State, Jicheng.
Liu Bang and his ministers looked at the bound King of Yan and asked, "My Lords, how do you think we should deal with this rebellious man?"
The King of Yan must die!
This is the consensus of everyone. For a normal monarch, anyone who takes the lead in rebellion must die. This is an iron political law that no one will violate.
However, after killing the leader, the settlement of the rebel's family and the family of his confidants can be discussed.
"Your Majesty, according to Han law, the three clans should be exterminated."
The current Han laws are temporary products after the Qin laws were drastically reduced. Basically, all the contents of the Luoling Law were deleted, such as prohibiting private book collection and free travel.
In addition, the countless corvée and military service under the Qin Dynasty were greatly reduced, and the system of collective punishment for neighbors' crimes was naturally abolished. The whole world seemed to have recovered from oppression.
It was too easy for the Han Dynasty to win the hearts of the people. As long as they relaxed a little, the people all over the world would have an increasingly favorable impression of Liu Bang.
Hearing that the three clans were to be exterminated, the King of Yan began to tremble. Luo Yi frowned slightly and asked Liu Bang: "Your Majesty, do you think that if the King of Yan is defeated, there will be no one in the entire Yan State who can threaten you and the Han Dynasty?"
Liu Bang laughed and said, "Zi Yu, the sea can always accommodate streams, and Kunpeng can surpass swallows and sparrows by just flapping its wings.
I am a commander who once fought against Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu was so powerful that I was able to confront him in Xingyang and not lose to him.
Even if the Prince of Yan is released now, I don't think he can threaten the Han Dynasty. I don't even know who gave him the courage to rebel. Does he think he is a powerful general like Ying Bu?
Just a cowardly nobleman."
Although Liu Bang was bragging, naturally no one would be so tactless as to say it out loud, and cheerful voices rang out throughout the entire palace of Prince Yan.
The generals were all in a good mood, the King of Yan fell, and the meritorious officials were well fed.
This battle was easy and without danger. There would be no problem in adding another three to five hundred households to the fief. The generals now only hoped that the remaining few kings of different surnames would quickly rebel.
For the sake of my brother's wealth and glory, I would like to borrow your head.
Luo Yi also smiled and said, "In this case, I suggest that Your Majesty not kill the relatives of the King of Yan. This is exactly what I want to report to Your Majesty.
You have to love people, people are the most precious thing in this world.
In fact, one of the important reasons why King Wu conquered King Zhou was that human sacrifice in the Shang Dynasty had reached a mad and insane level.
The Zhou tribe captured people for sacrifice in the western border for the King of Shang, but King Zhou was not satisfied. In order to show his respect for the emperor, he even sacrificed those nobles. The nobles of Bang Zhou died in the city of Chaoge in this way.
Thus, the Zhou Dynasty destroyed the Shang Dynasty. Although human sacrifices were still practiced in this world, they had disappeared.
Moreover, as the kings and ancestors of all generations stopped using human sacrifices, the custom of burying people alive with the dead gradually lessened, and it is basically no longer seen in Guandong at least.
King Su put down the rebellion of the Three Guards, but did not kill those nobles. The royal family of the Shang Dynasty participated in the rebellion, but King Su settled them in Song and still let them serve as monarchs.
Because killing is easy, but people who can use it are rare.
In such a large family, there are probably no less than thousands of close relatives. It would be a real pity to kill all of them.
South of Jiangdong is Lingnan. Although it was conquered during the reign of Emperor Qin Shihuang, it was only in name only and there was no actual rule.
It was only after Qin general Zhao Tuo established himself there that the Chinese states gained a certain ruling foundation there.
But this is not enough, there is a severe shortage of people there.
If you move the King of Yan's relatives there, you can send people to inspect them every three to five years until they have made meritorious services, such as how much land they have opened up, how much precious tribute they have paid, or a genius has emerged in the clan, and then they can return to the Central Plains.
You did them a favor by not killing them, and you gave them hope of returning, which is another favor. Apart from praising you day and night, I really can’t think of what else they can do.”
From execution to exile, it is hard to say which one is better. Some people think that a good death is worse than a miserable life, while others do not want to live in pain in the world.
However, what Luo Yi proposed was not a simple exile, but more like going to atone for sins and open up wasteland, and it was an open up wasteland with a clear goal. As long as one made meritorious contributions or received some precious tributes, it was possible to be pardoned for the sins and return to the Central Plains.
Luo Yi's proposal gave them hope, which is the most precious thing in the world.
Liu Bang pondered for a moment, thought about the several kings of different surnames in the old Chu in the south, and said immediately: "Zi Yu's suggestion is very good.
The Zhou Dynasty was unparalleled in expanding its territory, and the Qin Dynasty also made territorial contributions. The Han Dynasty must not fall behind.
We must develop all the land in the world well.
First, take all the relatives of the King of Yan back to Luoyang, and when the time is right, send them all to Lingnan, or even Qiongzhou.
Prince Yan, do you have any opinion on my decision? "
The Prince of Yan finally managed to speak, tears streaming down his face, and he choked up and said, "Your Majesty, I will die a thousand deaths if you show me your grace."
…
Linzi City.
When King Lu Cheng of Qi heard the report from his ministers about the rebellion of Prince of Yan, which was put down by Liu Bang in three months and Liu Bang appointed his brother as King of Yan, he fell into deep thought.
"Your Majesty?"
Qi Lian called him several times but he didn't respond until the voice got louder. Qi Xiang asked, "My king, what's wrong with you?"
The King of Qi frowned and said, "What the King of Yan is doing is not right. Why is he rebelling? Does he really think he can defeat Your Majesty?
Even if we are lucky enough to defeat Your Majesty, once General Han Xin arrives, we will still be like a bunch of chickens and dogs, and will be vulnerable to a single blow."
Qi Wang Lü Cheng was puzzled, shook his head and stopped thinking about it, and asked: "Prime Minister, is there anything important that you are here for?"
The prime minister of Qi took out a piece of cloth and handed it to Qi Wang Lü Cheng, saying, "This is sent by the queen and Lü Hou together, saying that they want to give it to you."
When Lu Cheng heard that it was sent by Lu Zhi and Lu Ze, he hurriedly took it. In today's world, the Lu clan can be said to have revived.
There was not only him, the King of Qi, but also the Queen Lu Zhi and Lu Ze, the central faction. There were people in the inner court, the outer court, and the local areas.
If it weren't for the support of the group of meritorious officials for Liu Bang, the Lu family would be even more powerful than the Liu family. This is why Lu Zhi scoffed at Liu Bang's desire to change the crown prince.
This is also the reason why Liu Bang had to get rid of the kings of other surnames and enfeoff the Liu family. Liu Bang really hoped that these Liu clan relatives could protect the emperor and support him.
The more the King of Qi watched, the more frightened he became. Of course, Lu Zhi would not say bluntly that Liu Bang wanted to eliminate the king of a different surname.
However, the timing of sending the letter was just right, and combined with the Luoyang Palace's statement that it would confer titles on the kings, then destroy the State of Yan and support a relative as the King of Yan, how could the King of Qi not be frightened.
The letter also revealed that Liu Bang wanted to confer the title of King of Chu on his own brother, a meritorious official with outstanding military achievements.
Lu Cheng is not a fool, otherwise Luo Ling would not help him. Lu Zhi and Lu Ze would not value this relative and specially send him this letter, which is obviously to save his life.
Lu Zhi and Lu Ze had the ability to do so. The most important thing was that if Liu Bang took action against Lu Cheng, the entire Lu family would feel uneasy. If the Lu family was uneasy, the Han Dynasty would not be stable.
Lu Cheng secretly thanked himself for listening to Luo Ling's advice and not competing with Lu Ze, who was closer in blood, for control of the Lu clan. "The world has really changed. The central government is the strongest. It has more soldiers and generals, and the marching speed is much faster than that of the Zhou Dynasty. It is too difficult to resist."
Thinking of this, Lu Cheng immediately said: "Bring me a pen. I will write back to the Queen and Lu Hou to express my gratitude. Also, prepare a carriage for me immediately. I will go to Zhaocheng to visit Lord Zhao."
If you have any questions, go to Duke Zhao. No matter whether his opinions are reasonable or not, just listen to him. Duke Zhao’s wisdom is ten times greater than mine. This is the way of survival in Lucheng.
Zhaocheng.
The King of Qi looked at the city and was overwhelmed by a sense of heaviness. This was a newly built city, but it exuded an ancient feeling.
"That's great. I don't know how the little brat is doing here. I think he's very happy and doesn't miss his old father in Qi at all."
Lu Cheng sighed and then hurried into Zhaocheng. Luo Ling, who was hard for ordinary people to see, was relatively simple for him. After all, he was Luo Ling's relative and a loyal henchman, so he had some status.
After seeing Luo Ling, Lu Cheng almost burst into tears on the spot, "Lord Zhao, you are the only one who can save my life now. Please choose a way for Cheng to go."
Luo Ling felt a little bit overwhelmed every time he faced the King of Qi, and said helplessly: "Your Majesty, sit up straight and don't be so frivolous. You are also a descendant of the Lu family, why is there such a big difference in personality between you and the Queen and Lu Hou? You are a bit like His Majesty the Emperor.
I know your intention. With the queen by your side, your life is not in danger. But if you want to be the ruler of a great country and have territories and counties, that is impossible. This is not Bang Zhou anymore."
Hearing this, Lu Cheng knew that there was no other way. He obeyed Luo Ling's orders and could only sigh and say, "Liu Bang is a bastard. We all fought together to conquer the world. His Liu family has been like this for generations, but we can't do that.
Lord Zhao, tell me, what should we do with the city?
————
When the Duke was about to die, he said to his Master, "After I die, if there is anything undecided, I will ask the Duke Zhao for advice.
Duke Zhao was born with the appearance of a dragon and a phoenix. If he had a word, he would be worshipped even in the mountains or in the abyss, in the place of life and death." - "Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of King Weiguang of Qi"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
