Chapter 348 End
How many years has it been since Chang'an City has seen the scene like this?
These princes and marquises of the Liu clan entered Chang'an city covered in dust and dirt, like eggplants hit by frost.
In Changle Palace.
Luo Jing stood in the hall. Liu Heng walked around him for a while before he felt relieved. He patted his shoulder and laughed loudly, "Ah Jing, I'm glad you're not hurt. You did a good job this time. You achieved such great results so quickly."
Luo Jing was clear that the information sent by the family saved most of the time. All he had to do was make some mediocre and correct choices at the right time.
After Liu Heng praised Luo Jing, he encouraged Zhou Yafu and others, and then turned his attention to the princes who had been trembling.
It was visibly that Liu Heng, who had been smiling just now, suddenly became full of anger. He wanted to find a sharp sword and stab all his relatives to death one by one, but reason made him come back to his senses.
Liu Heng walked around the crowd and then said with emotion: "When King Luo Wen just returned to power, I wanted to create a prosperous era like King Luo Wen, so I asked King Wen how to make the Han Dynasty always prosperous and uplifting.
King Wen said: If you can find the biggest threat to the Han Dynasty and solve it, the Han Dynasty will prosper forever.
I asked again: What is the Han Dynasty’s biggest concern?
King Wen said: The troubles we have are changing all the time. When you solve one big problem, a new one will appear. I don’t know what you will face.
After King Wen's death, I traveled all over the country and found loyal ministers and capable generals everywhere. The people of Han Dynasty were also loyal to the royal family, and benevolent policies were widely implemented. I could not find any problems with the Han Dynasty.
I never expected that the biggest threat to the Han Dynasty was not outside, but inside, among my own flesh and blood relatives.
Which one of you is not a descendant of Emperor Taizu Gao, which one of you is not a prince or marquis of the Liu family, which one of you is not the ruler of a country, and which one of you has not made a vow in Changle Weiyang.
Even if the river becomes as thin as a belt, even if Mount Tai becomes as small as the gravel on the roadside, your wealth and glory will not change. This is the oath given to you by the royal family, but the premise is that you must loyally protect the royal family.
I can't help but ask, isn't what the royal family has given you enough?
Your land fills every inch of the kingdom and marquisate. Your gold, silver and jewels are as numerous as the sand on the river beach, and even the warehouses cannot hold them all. You wear gorgeous clothes and eat delicacies from the sea and mountains, so why do you still want to seize the little bit of food and money that the people need to survive!
Your greed has reached such a point that even the legendary Taotie cannot compare to you.
You have plundered the people's money, but have you ever thought that every bad coin minted now will eventually turn into the anger of the people and lead them to rise up in rebellion?
How many years has it been since the Qin Dynasty fell!
Forgot it!
The moment I became a dictator and was overthrown, did you, the relatives of the Liu family, think you could remain unscathed?
How stupid.
It’s just stupid.”
Liu Heng became angrier and angrier as he spoke. Luo Jing quickly stepped forward to support him and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be angry with them. These insects are not even as good as a hair of yours. There are many loyal ministers and generals in this world, and there are also people in the Liu clan who care about the country and the people."
Luo Jing whispered again: "Your Majesty, these people are clan members after all, and the historian is here too. You should not leave a reputation of being harsh towards clan members. Later, I will pay a proper visit to these princes."
Liu Heng was moved to look at the thoughtful Luo Jing, and then looked at the group of Liu clan princes who only knew how to stir up trouble and dig into their own corners, and sighed: "A Jing, if you were from the Liu clan, I would grant you the entire Zhao land."
Luo Jing just smiled. He believed that Liu Heng really thought so, but that was impossible.
…
The next day.
An imperial edict was issued from the Forbidden City, accusing the King of Chu of attempting treason, and he was deposed from his kingdom and his 30,000 people were exiled to Lingnan.
The original Chu State was divided into five parts. Three parts were designated as counties of the imperial court, one part was used to rebuild the Chu State. Considering that the third son of the King of Chu was loyal to the imperial court, he would inherit the throne. One part was designated as a marquisate and settled by the imperial court.
As soon as the imperial edict was issued, countless court officials wrote letters of opposition, saying that "those who commit treason and conspiracy are not sentenced to death, which is not enough to demonstrate the majesty of the court's laws.
Although your majesty is kind, you should also be sharp-minded. Otherwise, how can you shock the world if things go on like this? "
Liu Heng then sent a letter to his ministers, saying: "In the past, when the princes of different surnames rebelled, only the ringleader was executed, and the rest were exiled, and even given the opportunity to return to Chang'an. At that time, people all over the world praised the benevolence of the Emperor Gao.
Those who are now imprisoned are all my relatives. The Han Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety, and blood relatives are most valued. If we treat them too harshly, wouldn’t it be setting a bad example for the world?
Since I ascended the throne, I have governed the country with benevolence, treated my subjects well, reduced punishments and exercised caution in killing, so I have given it much thought and decided that he should be exiled. "
Naturally, a group of people admired Liu Heng's kindness, but more letters came in, saying that the kings of different surnames had executed the main culprit in the past, and now the princes of the Liu family should also execute the main culprit. After all, this was rebellion and treason, how could it be easily circumvented?
Amidst the turmoil in the outside world, Luo Jing took people to meet the former King of Chu. The King of Chu was a little surprised that Luo Jing would come to see him, and his attitude in Luoyang City had changed. It can be said that he was incredibly nice. He comforted him in a gentle voice: "Don't worry too much, Your Majesty is kind and values family affection the most. Your life will be safe. Be careful when eating and drinking. Be careful when you go out. Be careful of the threshold, and don't walk on high places such as corridors. If you have an accident, His Majesty will definitely be sad."
The King of Chu was somewhat flattered, and he bowed directly in the direction of the palace, crying, "I am truly ashamed of your grace, Your Majesty. Please report to Your Majesty that I will definitely reform myself."
Luo Jing didn't say anything, but just looked at the former King of Chu with a puzzled look, and then left leisurely with a group of people including the historian.
Therefore, the King of Chu was slightly relieved at first, but then he suddenly woke up from his sleep, sweating profusely, his face pale, and full of fear.
The conversation between the two soon spread out. No one expected that the emperor actually wanted to save the King of Chu's life and just exile him.
Just when many court officials had given up, news came that the King of Chu had committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and he also left a suicide note, saying, "I have heard about the turmoil these days, and I did not expect that the sinner's fault would affect your Majesty's wisdom. I am really ashamed. I can only die to atone for my sins and repay your grace.
Your Majesty is wise and wise, I wish you a long life and eternal peace."
The King of Chu's suicide out of fear of punishment was beyond everyone's expectations, and then most people realized that this might be the best outcome.
Although there is now a lot of experience in exile to Lingnan, given the physical fitness of these dignitaries, the probability of surviving exile is only half, not to mention that they may die from acclimatization problems along the way.
He was also very good to the emperor, and his reputation for benevolence and righteousness was well established. He also directly eliminated the opposition among the court officials.
The people were also happy.
The death of the King of Chu solved far more problems than his entire foolish life. For the King of Chu who committed suicide out of fear of punishment, naturally he could not even get a normal posthumous title. The court gave him a bad posthumous title.
But at least his status as a prince was restored, and the number of people exiled to Lingnan by the Chu Palace was greatly reduced. Those younger children were able to stay in the Central Plains and did not have to risk their lives to go to Lingnan. This was already Liu Heng's greatest kindness.
Once the King of Chu, who had the most serious problems, was dealt with, dealing with the remaining princes became very easy.
According to Han law, kings could be stripped of their titles and kingdoms on the grounds of committing crimes.
Half of the land was divided among the princes and given to their sons. The eldest son would inherit the throne, and the rest of the sons would all be made marquises. The remaining half of the country was turned into counties.
As the population gradually increased over the past few decades, the largest county even had a population of one million, so it was inevitable to divide new counties from the old large counties.
Now is the perfect opportunity to promote it.
This was a major event that shocked the world. Since the time when King Luo Wen was regent, the imperial court began to establish many princes. In addition, with the extension of favors, there are now quite a few Liu princes in the world.
This time, five princes and thirteen marquises lost their countries at once. Although the court re-established sacrifices, this was the first time that princes had fiefs smaller than a county.
To a certain extent, these princes are no longer qualified to be called princes. How could such a big change not attract attention?
The new emperor had just ascended the throne and had accomplished such a great deed. Countless people were waiting to see what the emperor would do next.
As the princes of Shandong were continuously suppressed, Chang'an became more and more dazzling in the hearts of people all over the world.
————
Due to the existence of Dong'a Hou Luo Jing, the "Zhu Liu lost his country" incident is extremely well-known and has always been talked about on the Internet. Netizens jokingly call it "a bloody case caused by a copper coin."
At the very beginning of this incident, even the Han court did not expect that it would cause such a big reaction, but with Luo Jing's swift and decisive action, the incident was rapidly escalated. Emperor Wen of Han took this opportunity to begin the next step of implementing the policy of extending favors, which was to deprive those distant relatives of their fiefdoms.
This was a landmark event that strongly upheld the centralization of power in the Han court and laid a solid foundation for the Han dynasty to move toward its peak.
(End of this chapter)
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