mtl008 Chapter 476 Recruiting from reality
Chapter 476 Recruiting from reality
In full view of everyone, Zhao Xuan entered the Dali Temple, and even the emperor had no reason to stop him.
Yun Ting saw everything, and everything was exactly as Xiao Yu had expected.
He turned and walked into the crowd, riding back home.
Tutor He was sitting in the study with a frown on his face.
The most serious consequence of breaking up with Xiao Yu is that Xiao Yu will tell the emperor everything, which is a crime of deceiving the emperor and disobeying his order.
Two days had passed since the break, but the emperor hadn't said a word.
Xiao Yu did not tell the emperor about his plan to cancel the engagement?
Or does Xiao Yu want to choose another time to make it clear so as to threaten him?
Just then, He Wen knocked on Tutor He's door.
"Father, something bad is going to happen!"
He Taifu opened the door and listened to He Wen's account of what happened at the south gate of the imperial palace. He immediately ordered his son, "Prepare the carriage and go to the Dali Temple with your father."
Since Taifu He was the emperor's teacher, the Dali Temple naturally did not dare to stop or neglect him.
When they arrived, Zhang Zhong and Duan Xu just came in from outside.
Li Huaizhi told several people the whole story and began the preliminary investigation.
This matter concerned the emperor. The presiding judge was Li Huaizhi, assisted by Duan Xu and Zhang Zhong. Tutor He and his son He Wen were in attendance. There were also two chief clerks taking notes. There was no one else.
He had seen these people when he was in Beijing. Although they had no intersection, he could vaguely recognize them.
According to the information received in advance, they are all credible.
The gavel was banged, and everyone in the hall fell silent.
Li Huaizhi asked loudly: "Who are you and why are you causing trouble at the gate of the Imperial City?"
The old white-haired man kowtowed and answered solemnly, "I am Zhao Xuan, the magistrate of Yushan County. I came to Beijing this time to sue the current emperor Xiao Ye for abusing my maternal clan, the Xiangzhou Wang clan, regardless of the law, and for allowing my clan members to abuse their power for personal gain, killing innocent people, embezzling taxes, and colluding with officials and bandits to steal money and kill people."
Everyone in the hall had seen major cases before, but this was the only case that violated almost all of Daning's laws.
The emperor reigned for twenty years, and although he could not be said to have made any great achievements, he was not inferior to other emperors.
I didn’t expect that there was such a heinous thing hidden underneath!
Since this concerns the emperor, they cannot just trust it blindly.
Li Huaizhi frowned and asked, "Everything requires evidence. Zhao Xuan, do you have any witnesses or physical evidence?"
Zhao Xuan knelt straight and said loudly, "I have brought the evidence. It is hidden outside the capital. Please go with me to get it."
It would be enough to send someone, but they had to mobilize a large force. Li Huaizhi said dissatisfiedly: "Just tell me where it is and I will send someone to get it."
Although they were not treacherous ministers, the defendant was the emperor, and the possibility of their favoritism could not be ruled out.
He knew that in the end, it would be impossible for the emperor to be punished like ordinary ministers, but he still wanted to make the matter as big as possible.
"My Lord, this is a matter of great importance! Unless you all go together, I cannot hand over the evidence even if I die!"
Zhao Xuan's wrinkled face showed neither arrogance nor servility, but determination.
It was only then that Li Huaizhi discovered that almost all of Zhao Xuan's teeth had fallen out, and he was obviously leaking air when he spoke.
How can this person look like someone who is just over thirty years old!
Duan Xu and Zhang Zhong also discovered it.
Zhang Zhong asked the questions in his mind.
"You said you were Zhao Xuan, but according to my investigation, Zhao Xuan was the top scholar in the Ning'an 10th year. He was only 25 years old at that time, and now he is only 35 years old. Your hair and beard are all white, and your teeth are falling out. You are obviously more than 35 years old."
"Who are you? Tell the truth!" Zhang Zhong asked coldly.
"Who can we follow in the example of the ancient emperors who respected heaven and served the people? Is it true that the so-called respect for heaven is only for the sacrifices at the Circular Mound and the suburban sacrifices, and that the only thing they are devoted to is respecting heaven?"
"I have heard that Heaven created the people and established the ruler to govern and manage them. This is how the ruler governs the people on behalf of Heaven."
Zhao Xuan said: "This is the test question and the excerpt of the essay I wrote. You can check it carefully. If necessary, I can also write the full text."
Master He looked at the person kneeling in the hall, and his confusion turned into shock.
He stared at Zhao Xuan and asked, "Zhao Xuan, what did I say to you after you won the third place in the imperial examination?"
Zhao Xuan looked up at Master He, and their eyes met. He felt as if he was back to the day when he was full of vigor and vitality.
"I wish to pave the way for the people with my body, establish the destiny for the people with my heart, and forge a prosperous and peaceful world with my blood. I like this sentence very much, and I would like to share it with you!"
Master He looked at the face that was as old as his, and he could not unite with the young man who was full of vigor and ambition.
Although his voice sounded much older and a little hoarse, looking at his eyes which were as clear and determined as that day, Master He knew that this person was Zhao Xuan!
"The answers of the top three candidates are sealed in the Imperial Examination Hall. Even if I want to read them, I have to get permission from Your Majesty. I am fortunate to have read the essays of the candidates with Your Majesty. This person is indeed Zhao Xuan!"
Master He's eyes moved, and he looked at him in disbelief with red eyes and asked, "How could you have reached such a state in just ten years?"
It is hard to imagine what a handsome and high-spirited young man had gone through to become so old in just ten years!
Zhao Xuan looked at the pain and worry in Tutor He's eyes, and his eyes couldn't help but turn red.
His lips trembled for a long time before he spoke hoarsely.
"Yushan County and its surrounding areas have been robbed by bandits for many years, and the people are living in poverty. Later, I tried my best to resist, but was retaliated and tortured by the bandits. Although they let me go, I was left with a lot of illnesses. I have been eating coarse food with them for many years, and I have become what I am today."
This is how he has lived through the past ten years!
Master He asked with red eyes: "Why don't you think of a way to send a message to the capital?"
"I can't leave Xiangzhou, and the letter can't leave Xiangzhou either. The person who helped me carry the letter died on the way..."
Zhao Xuan's lips moved, he gritted his teeth, and tried hard not to make any sound, but his tears still rolled down silently.
Except for Li Huaizhi and the two chief clerks, everyone else in the hall had seen Zhao Xuan and was shocked.
At that time, he was appreciated by the emperor and was awarded the title of Fifth-Rank Counselor of the Hanlin Academy. However, within just three months, he was demoted to Yushan County, Xiangzhou, for drunkenness and visiting prostitutes.
Everyone thought that he had gained power overnight and had forgotten his original intention, and he made the same mistakes that many officials would make.
They didn't expect that Zhao Xuan would do such a thing!
Tutor He walked over with red eyes, knelt in front of him, and held his hand like an old father comforting his child.
When Zhao Xuan saw Master He, he almost couldn't hold back his tears.
He had been tense for ten years, and when he finally let go, the emotions that poured out almost crushed him.
But he had persisted for ten years, and at the last moment, he would never give in, even if he died.
He has to redress the grievances of tens of thousands of people. The wicked people are still in high positions and bully the people. He will not be able to rest in peace even if he dies unless they receive the punishment they deserve.
The anger in his heart made him more rational.
He wiped away his tears with his sleeves; there were more important things to do right now.
Zhao Xuan knelt down again, knocked his head on the ground, and said loudly: "Please help me get the evidence!
Looking at his old but clear eyes, coupled with everything he just heard, Li Huaizhi was shocked.
How could a person who is so dedicated to serving the people be a person who only cares about pleasure!
"it is good!"
Li Huaizhi responded and looked at the reactions of the others, and everyone nodded.
They agreed and prepared their horses to go out of the city. Zhao Xuan rode in the carriage with Taifu He and He Wen.