Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 365 Holy Emperor? Just a hypocritical political creature!
After lunch, Liu Bian was about to take a short rest when a guard in embroidered robes slowly entered the bedchamber under Dian Wei's watchful eye and handed him a rolled-up piece of paper.

Taking the small note from Dian Wei, Liu Bian's gaze quickly swept over the few lines of brief information, his brows furrowing slightly.

He then ordered Dian Wei to throw it into the furnace inside the palace, where the flames quickly consumed it, turning it into ashes.

Killing a palace eunuch is hardly a big deal in this deep palace.

Among the eunuchs and palace maids who held high positions in the palace, which one of them had truly clean hands?
Those who are kind-hearted and soft-hearted have long been devoured by this man-eating place, leaving not even bones behind.

Moreover, Liu Bian would not tolerate Gao Wang's soft-heartedness.

Since Liu Bian came to power, he designated a special area in the royal garden outside Luoyang as a retirement home for eunuchs and palace maids, where those over fifty years of age could live out their remaining years.

Of course, the treatment is determined by an individual's past status, but the benefits of being well-fed, well-rested, and cared for can benefit everyone.

There are very few palace maids in the nursing home. Palace maids who are not favored in the palace can choose to leave the palace when they turn thirty and can also receive a rather generous dowry.

When they leave the palace, the palace ladies are instructed to introduce them to wealthy families, such as former Northern Army soldiers and current Central Army soldiers, veterans who have been awarded but retired due to injuries, or other reliable options.

Those palace maids who remained in the palace even after the age of thirty were almost all confidantes of the empresses and concubines, or female officials with official duties, or pitiful people who had nowhere to go.

Most of the servants in the nursing home are over fifty years old.

As servants of the emperor, and being physically disabled, once eunuchs entered the palace, they were destined to live and die there.

Unless the emperor grants a special decree allowing some people to return home to retire.

When the emperor granted a general amnesty, a group of elderly eunuchs were often released from the palace, but few of them met a good end after returning home.

People with disabilities are discriminated against. Even eunuchs who once held positions and brought real benefits to their families are often swindled out of their retirement money and savings after they can no longer bring benefits to their families. They are then driven out of their homes and left to fend for themselves.

Sue the official?

Which of those county officials would be willing to uphold justice for a eunuch?

If the county magistrate doesn't take the opportunity to kick him while he's down and slander him as a wicked official who abused his power in the past and was killed by his own family for the sake of justice, then he's considered benevolent.

For this reason, Liu Biancai specially set up this nursing home, and all expenses were paid from the imperial treasury, without consuming a single penny of the national treasury.

In addition, he increased the salaries of eunuchs and palace maids to twice that of Liu Hongguang's reign. However, due to his efforts to streamline the palace staff after ascending the throne and the significant reduction in the number of new eunuchs and palace maids recruited, the total expenditure on salaries was actually not much different from previous years.

Other things, such as extending the time for visiting relatives and tacitly allowing some extra money in shopping, need not be elaborated upon.

However, there are always some people who don't know what's good for them and can't control their actions.

If one cannot control their hands and feet, that's one thing. As long as it's not stealing documents, other crimes will be punished according to the value of the stolen items, in accordance with the Han law. The punishment will be either caning or imprisonment, and then being driven out of the palace.

What Liu Bian disliked most were those who couldn't control their mouths.

There are always people who, when returning home to visit relatives, cannot resist the temptation of money and establish long-term channels for exchanging messages with people outside the palace.

How could the palace be without spies in embroidered robes?
There was never a rule that the Embroidered Robe Inspectorate could not recruit eunuchs and palace maids. Whether it was a hidden Embroidered Robe Inspectorate or someone planted by Gao Wang, anyone found to have dared to leak palace secrets would be beaten to death.

Of course, as the holy emperor in the hearts of all people, he could not be the one to handle such a bloody matter.

The dirty work was naturally done by Gao Wang.

Liu Bian raised his hand and rubbed his temples, no longer dwelling on the matter.

Gao Wang's murderous intent was indeed stronger than before, and his methods were becoming increasingly cruel, but wasn't this exactly what he wanted? Besides, wasn't he, the emperor, becoming more and more hypocritical?
Sometimes he couldn't help but ask himself, "Am I even a 'human being' anymore?"

He felt that he was more of a purely political being.

At least for now, he still couldn't understand why so many emperors were unwilling to relinquish their power until their deaths.

In the afternoon, Liu Bian washed his face and then summoned many officials in succession.

The first person summoned in the afternoon was Yang Qi, the governor of Runan.

Yang Qi stepped into the hall with slightly hesitant steps. After bowing to the emperor on the throne, he lowered his head slightly and cautiously looked at the ground in front of him.

He was truly terrified. Previously, he had been kept in the dark by the military and had only just learned of Yang Biao's serious crime.

Although Yang Biao was not from the same branch of the family as him, they were both from the Hongnong Yang clan, so he was inevitably implicated.

However, to Yang Qi's surprise, the emperor not only did not hold a grudge against him for Yang Biao's actions, but instead appointed him as the governor of Yuzhou.

“Gongting (Yang Qi’s courtesy name),” Liu Bian said in a calm voice, “I know you well. You are a ‘strong man’ in this world, unlike people like Yang Biao. There is no need to worry that I will take my anger out on you because of him.”

Liu Bian comforted Yang Qi, as he valued Yang Qi quite a bit.

Yang Qi was an upright official with a pure heart and no ulterior motives.

Unlike the so-called "pure stream" officials who offered advice for the sake of empty fame, Yang Qi, though upright, was skilled at satirical remonstrance. His arguments were all well-founded, and he was also knowledgeable about human nature. Even when Liu Hong was in power, although he was often displeased with Yang Qi's advice, he was still willing to adopt it. Not to mention Yang Qi's ability in handling administrative affairs and his political achievements in recent years.

Hearing the emperor address Yang Biao by his given name instead of his courtesy name, it was clear how deeply the emperor disliked Yang Biao. Feeling a chill, the emperor bowed and said, "The nation is wise and benevolent. Alas, it was Yang Wenxian who was ungrateful and failed to live up to the emperor's grace."

Along with the news of Yang Biao's house arrest, the emperor's three previous warnings to Yang Biao about "doing things wrong" also spread.

The first time was when the emperor personally went to Yang Ci's residence to offer condolences, and he said this in front of many mourning guests.

The third instance was on the day of Yang Ci's burial. When the emperor ordered Zhang Zhao, the Imperial Censor, to preside over the funeral, Zhang Zhao reiterated the decision to Yang Biao in front of many guests as the ceremony ended.

Although the second incident took place in the palace and was unknown to outsiders, Grand Tutor Lu Zhi revealed the matter to the public.

Given the first and third instances of "doing it well," and the fact that it was Grand Tutor Lu Zhi who personally testified to it, few people doubted the authenticity of the news.

Three warnings to "do it right"!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Yang Biao's crimes were tantamount to plotting a rebellion!

To exonerate Dou Wu and Chen Fan is tantamount to denying the legitimacy of the retired emperor's throne, thus shaking the legal foundation of the current emperor's succession.

How can there be such stupid and foolish people in this world!
Even so, the emperor could have captured Yang Biao at the beginning of his conspiracy, but he still gave him three chances because of his friendship with the former Grand Commandant Yang Ci.

This is a crime tantamount to treason!

As details of the incident spread, there was almost no more criticism from the court and the public. Instead, everyone praised the emperor's benevolence and condemned Yang Biao for failing to live up to the emperor's favor.

As for those who still cherish the memory of the "Three Gentlemen" and sympathize with the party members, those with such thoughts have long been imprisoned along with Yang Biao and Huang Wan. Who would dare to object?
Furthermore, the fall of the Yuan family of Runan has undoubtedly fed countless powerful and influential families, both large and small.

Now, as the descendants of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty, the top aristocratic family with a profound heritage far surpasses that of the Yuan family of Runan, how many more powerful families will emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain after the downfall of the Yang family of Hongnong, and try to get a share of the spoils from the corpse of the Yang family of Hongnong?
Liu Bian remained calm and composed, instructing Yang Qi, the newly appointed governor of Yu, to severely crack down on lawless powerful families and continue to promote the construction of water conservancy projects. However, he suddenly changed the subject and said without explanation, "However, there are rumors circulating in the court and among the people, and I do not wish for you to be affected by them. From now on, you will separate from Yang Biao."

Yang Qi was taken aback upon hearing this, a look of bewilderment and surprise flashing across his face. Before he could reply, the emperor continued, "I have heard that Gongting Gong once established a hermitage in the territory of Yin Goushi in Henan, where he had two hundred disciples. I give you two months to sell your family property in Hongnong, exempt you from taxes for a year, and relocate your clan to Jiangshi."

Hearing the Emperor's tone, which sounded more like a clear notification than a discussion, Yang Qi, though still somewhat reluctant, dared not hesitate for a moment and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

(2510 words)
(End of this chapter)