When the emperor seized the throne, he was quite ruthless and decisive.
After enjoying a few days of imperial life, he lost his bearings, and the officials were very dissatisfied.
What surprised them even more was that Zhao Jing secretly brought them a message—the emperor planned to discard him after he had served his purpose.
The people were dissatisfied because they had not received any benefits since the new emperor arrived. The emperor planned to plunder the silver embezzled from the officials' offices to comfort the poor and consolidate his rule.
Zhao Jing even spoke up for the emperor, saying that he only intended to plunder three layers.
Isn't the third layer silver?
In chaotic times, who wouldn't want to save up some money for themselves?
If the emperor does this, then what about all the hard work they did alongside him to conquer the country?
They initially didn't believe it, but the emperor's eunuchs also conveyed the news, and even his concubines hinted that the emperor had made his plans.
This enraged the officials.
They absolutely will not allow an emperor who infringes upon their interests to remain on the throne!
So they decided to overthrow the emperor's rule.
Anyway, he didn't sit on the throne for more than a few days.
As for the common people, Zhao Jing used a completely different set of excuses.
He said he would advise the emperor to issue new policies, reduce the heavy taxes, and stop sending all the good men in the family to the battlefield.
The people were naturally very relieved to hear this.
However, not long after, they heard that the general who had been thinking of them had been ordered by the emperor to be flogged dozens of times and was recuperating at the general's mansion.
They were filled with intense anger!
The officials were outraged, and so were the people; they were all discussing how to put a new person in charge.
In fact, the officials also wanted to rise to power, but they were all from high-ranking noble families, and the interests behind them were too complicated. If they really rose to power, they would definitely eliminate dissidents, and perhaps the next ones to be eliminated would be those who supported their rise to power.
Therefore, it is essential to find a new emperor who has no powerful backing.
The common people's thoughts are much simpler; they hope that whoever treats them well will rise to power.
The only candidate they could choose was their beloved General Zhao Jing.
Hearing that Zhao Jing was very popular among the people, the officials suddenly thought of him.
He's actually quite good.
He made great contributions, yet the emperor forced him to accept a wife who had lost her virginity. He was repeatedly mocked by the emperor in public, yet he remained silent, which was truly too obedient and cowardly.
If he were to take that position, it would be fine for him to be a puppet.
With this plan in mind, the officials found Zhao Jing increasingly pleasing to the eye.
If Zhao Jing were to ascend the throne, he would be an emperor with no background but only military power, and he would be able to handle state affairs according to their orders. Perhaps one day he would be killed by other rebel forces, but he would be more than capable of dealing with the current situation.
When they told Zhao Jing their plans, he naturally refused in every way.
But the officials reasoned with him, appealing to his emotions and logic, and considering the greater good, the people's interests, and the fate of the nation. In the end, he nodded in agreement.
Seeing him so easily coaxed, the officials each had their own thoughts.
But everyone's goal is the same now: to bring down the new emperor.
On a starry night, the emperor was drinking with his newly acquired concubine. Just as they were about to undress, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.
The emperor, drunk, shouted, "Whoever is making a scene outside, drag them out and behead them!"
But in the empty palace, there was no one else but him and his concubine.
Not long after, a series of footsteps sounded.
The emperor looked up and saw Zhao Jing, who was dressed in full armor.
He understood at a glance.
"Zhao Jing, are you planning a rebellion?!"
The concubine bowed to Zhao Jing and left quickly, leaving only Zhao Jing and the emperor in the room.
"If you voluntarily write an abdication edict and pass the throne to me, I may spare your life."
The emperor felt dizzy and spat out a mouthful of hot blood.
"How dare you betray me!"
"It's fine if you don't write it. I've already had someone imitate your handwriting so perfectly."
Zhao Jing approached him step by step, and with a casual tug, pulled him off the bed.
Seeing him lying on the ground, disheveled and in a sorry state, Zhao Jing's eyes remained completely unmoved.
"Do you hate me? I spanked you not long ago because the rumors in the capital were too rampant. I didn't want to hear them. I... I've lost my mind. I was wrong..."
Zhao Jing's expression was extremely indifferent, as if he were looking at a corpse.
The emperor racked his brains, then suddenly thought of someone else. His eyes lit up: "Is it because of Jiang Tian? Yes, yes, I shouldn't have urged you to send her to the palace. No, no, I shouldn't have given her to you. She's been defiled. I should have killed her. I—ah—"
Zhao Jing stabbed him in the third leg with his sword.
He stared down at the disheveled, crippled man, his nameless rage burning ever brighter.
"I promoted you to your position because I had no legitimate claim to the position, while you at least benefited from your bloodline. Now that you are no longer of value, it's time to make way for you."
Zhao Jing was extremely indifferent.
The emperor's lips trembled with pain: "How could you do this to me! I... I promoted you!"
No, it was I who chose you.
Zhao Jing took out a pill, forcibly pried open his mouth, and stuffed it in: "I will pretend that you committed suicide out of guilt towards the people, so that you can have some dignity in the end."
His gaze lingered on the emperor, his eyes gradually losing focus. He whispered in his ear, "Actually, I didn't plan to act so soon, but you insisted on bringing her into the palace..."
He didn't say anything more.
He couldn't tell whether he was venting his own anger or that of the woman.
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