There was silence in the tent, and dawn was just around the corner.
Long Tai pondered for a moment, and finally said: "The Duke should understand that my ancestors gave me the country and the country, so I can't let it fall into my hands. The people of the Northern Han Dynasty can't, the people of the Eastern Qi can't, and the Sima family... Of course they can't either."
Sima Lan nodded slightly: "Actually, I don't know whether I will really commit rebellion one day. I have served the Chu State for many years. The more things I take care of, the more people will be used. People who take care of many things will use them. If there are more people, the power in the hands will naturally be greater, and it is reasonable to attract people's jealousy. For example, the King of Huainan regards the old minister as a thorn in his side. Your Majesty, if the old minister had no power in his hands, not only could he not be able to protect the emperor, but he might even Uprooted by the Huainan King's Party."
Longtai said: "I understand, so I always feel that you are a meritorious minister to me."
"Although the veteran is suspected of overstepping his bounds, there are still many talented people among the people employed by the veteran." Sima Lan said: "The emperor is dealing with the veteran, so there is no need to catch them all. As long as the veteran is gone, they will not If they dare to have any wrongdoing, the Emperor will give them a chance to atone for their crimes. Firstly, it will make the ministers appreciate the Emperor's compassion, and secondly, it will also allow these people to serve the country."
Longtai nodded and said: "Don't worry, Duke, I know how to deal with it."
Sima Lan then picked up the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp. Just as he was about to get up, he seemed to have thought of something and asked, "I wonder... is there someone behind the scenes for all this that the emperor has planned?"
Longtai said: "Why should the Duke care about this?"
"That's right." Sima Lan smiled and said, "I am just stupid."
Longtai thought for a moment and then said: "My lord, go and rest first. I will send you a message later."
Sima Lan knelt on the ground and saluted Longtai without saying another word. At this time, Chi Fengdian was already standing in front of the tent door and came over to lead Sima Lan back.
The first ray of dawn shone between heaven and earth. It was a thrilling night, and all the officials were frightened. Although everyone knew that something huge happened that night, they could only speculate on what was strange in it.
At daybreak, the emperor summoned the ministers to go to the emperor's tent. The ministers were worried. Soon Liu Jin came over and read out the emperor's edict: "The emperor's edict says: Ma Lan of the Zhenguo Company has been engaged in political affairs for a long time, and his hard work has made great achievements, but his authority Gradually, holding power becomes spoiled, and gradually develops a disobedient heart. He is arrogant and arrogant, monopolizes power, and dominates the government and the public. I remember the past achievements of my old minister and tolerated it again and again. However, Sima Lan did not repent and reborn with a rebellious heart. In order to quell Lin Lin During the Autumn Hunting, assassins were hiding in secret, intending to assassinate me and usurp the government. I remembered the difficulty of our ancestors and did not dare to abolish it, so I detained Sima Lan in the camp. Although Sima Lan conspired to usurp the throne, but as the founder of the country, I I can't bear it, so I specially order the ministers to discuss it and deal with it!"
Although all the ministers already vaguely knew that Sima Lan was involved in last night's event, they were still shocked when they heard the emperor's edict.
After a moment of silence among the ministers, a man suddenly came forward and knelt on the ground, saying loudly: "Your Majesty Dou Kui, please tell me. Sima Lan has monopolized power, appointed nepotism, and eliminated dissidents. His treasonous intentions are clearly revealed, and now he intends to assassinate him." Your Majesty, if such a traitorous thief is not severely punished, how can he explain it to the people of the world? I ask your Majesty to issue an order to put the traitor Sima Lan to death."
Everyone knew very well that Dou Kui, as a confidant of the Huainan King, had been trembling with fear after the Imperial Mausoleum Incident, fearing that Sima Lan would attack him. For this reason, Dou Kui even defected to Jin Yihou's disciples, hoping to use this. Save your wealth and life.
Now that Sima Lan has been confirmed by the emperor to be a traitor, Dou Kui will certainly not be polite. As long as Sima Lan collapses this time, the knife that has been hanging over Dou Kui's head will naturally disappear.
But the ministers understood better that since the emperor had issued this edict to the ministers, there was no way for Sima Lan to turn around. In the edict, the emperor claimed that he was reluctant to execute Sima Lan, which was nothing more than a show. After all, Sima Lan was Although the founding hero of the country was guilty of serious crimes, the emperor still had to show that he was compassionate and righteous.
The emperor's purpose in issuing this edict was simply to use the wishes of the ministers to execute Sima Lan.
Everyone knows it well and knows that Sima Lan's situation is over. The court will definitely undergo another round of blood changes. Whether he can maintain his current status is obviously a test this time.
Dou Kui led the request to put Sima Lan to death. The other ministers did not hesitate, and someone immediately stepped forward and said: "Sima Lan does not think about the emperor's grace, but he has evil intentions. This man is ungrateful and must be executed."
"Sima Lan pretended to be a public official for personal gain, enriched his own pockets, and relied on nepotism. I have long discovered that this person has evil intentions. This time, his true colors have been revealed. These people who bring harm to the country and the people must be punished, otherwise it will be difficult to explain to the world."
"I heard that Sima Lan asked the emperor to go hunting in Pinglin this time, so he had hidden evil intentions. However, I couldn't find any evidence and didn't dare to speak out." Another minister came forward and said: "Fortunately, the emperor is wise. The old thieves from the East and West are plotting treacherously, which is really a blessing for Chu. I also ask the emperor to kill the old thieves."
All of a sudden, all the ministers came forward one after another, all filled with indignation. Looking at their expressions, they seemed to want to take a knife and chop Sima Lan into pieces.
Dou Kui saw a small number of ministers standing there silently, coughed, looked at Huangfu Zheng, and said: "Sir Huangfu, I heard that you and Mr. Chen Lanting went to see Sima Lan last night. At that time, you could notice Sima Lan's Conspiracy?"
Among the ministers, half were from Sima Lan, and some of them had followed Dou Kui to the Huainan King's sect.
After the death of King Huainan, Dou Kui and others were worried day and night. Even though they switched to Qining's sect, they still knew that the strength of the Jinyi Qi family could not be compared with the Sima family. They were still worried about disaster coming from the sky every day. For several months Didn't even get a good night's sleep.
This time Sima Lan was beaten as a treasonous thief. This group of people felt that the stone that was pressing on their heads was removed, and they felt relieved for an instant. At this time, they saw Huangfu Zheng and others with solemn expressions, and they immediately pointed their spears at him. , intending to take this opportunity to drive out Sima Lan and his party, at this time everyone felt a sense of pride and elation.
Huangfu Zheng and others were all frightened. Although Dou Kui just said a word, the murderous intention in his words was already looming.
"What do you mean, Mr. Dou?" Huangfuzheng sneered.
Dou Kui also sneered and said: "The emperor was assassinated because of the conspiracy of old thief Sima. Someone saw you two entering old thief Sima's tent last night. I dare to ask you two adults. Were you and old thief Sima there last night?" Discuss something?"
Someone immediately jumped up and said, "Yes, Mr. Chen and Mr. Huangfu, you must tell everyone clearly what you did last night."
Huangfu Zheng put his hands behind his back, sneered and said, "The emperor has just issued an edict. Are you going to exclude dissidents and impose charges on us?"
"Lord Huangfu, everyone has doubts in their minds, but I don't want to impose charges on you." Lu Xiao, the Minister of War, coughed and said slowly: "The emperor was assassinated, Sima Lan was the mastermind, and you did enter Sima Lan's tent last night , everyone should ask clearly, it is also a reasonable thing."
Lu Xiao was not from Dou Kui's party, nor from Sima Lan, but from the Jindao Tantai family. When he stepped forward, Dou Kui and others were even more delighted.
Lu Xiao's words also represent the attitude of the Jindao Tantai family. After Sima Lan's fall, only Tantai Huang and Qining were left in the court. If these two forces join forces to attack Sima Lan, The Party is naturally invincible in its pursuit and suppression.
"Yes, Master Lu is right." Dou Kui said immediately: "That's what we mean. Master Huangfu, please explain it to everyone."
While they were talking, a group of people actually gathered around Chen Lanting and Huangfu Zheng, as if they were worried that the two of them would run away.
As we all know, Sima Lan is very powerful, and the forces in the DPRK are represented by these two people. Sima Lan has been arrested. As long as these two people are brought down again, the rest of the Sima Party will be vulnerable.
Seeing the other party's aggressiveness, Chen Lanting showed annoyance on his brows, and couldn't help but said: "Master Dou, the two of us have already written a summary of what happened that night and presented it to the emperor. When will I need to report it to you?"
When everyone heard this, their voices suddenly became muted.
Liu Wei, who had read out the edict before, did not leave. He had been watching the officials fight. At this time, he finally came up and said: "My lords, please be patient. Master Chen is not wrong. You two have indeed submitted the document to the emperor. That is correct." It is because of the reports of the two adults that the evidence of Sima Lan’s rebellion is conclusive.”
Everyone was startled again, and Chen Lanting and Huangfu Zheng suddenly looked a little embarrassed.
"That night, the two adults informed Sima Lan of the emperor's night hunt. They were originally thinking about the emperor's safety, but after Sima Lan learned that the emperor was going to go on a night hunt, they immediately set up an ambush." Liu Wei said: "In addition, Sima Lan had previously There are many rumors of treason, and there was also a plot to usurp the throne. The two adults reported Sima Lan's past criminal evidence to the emperor one by one. It was the two adults' reports that Sima Lan's rebellion was irrefutable."
"That's it." Dou Kui said with a smile: "So, not only are the two adults blameless, but they have also made great contributions."
"Yes, I didn't expect that it was two adults who made great contributions this time." An official next to him smiled and said: "Master Chen, Master Huangfu, the two masters were very close to the old thief before. We thought that the two adults It's Sima Lan's party, and I just found out today that the two adults endured the humiliation and came close to Sima Lan in order to collect evidence of the crime, which is extremely wonderful."
Another official said: "These two adults have made such great contributions. Everyone, we should report to the emperor and ask him to reward these two adults well."
The officials' words were full of ridicule. Chen Lanting and Huangfu Zheng's faces turned dark and red, but how could they argue with everyone at this time? On the contrary, those officials who had been close to Sima Lan before turned to them. His contemptuous eyes were full of disdain.