Chapter 922: Pulling the Bridge After Crossing the River
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
This also made the Han Clan’s excuses useless.
At the same time, these words of defense completely became excuses under the combined efforts of tens of thousands of scholars and people in the North.
Everyone’s eyes were bright.
It was also a fact that the Han Clan had angered everyone.
The Empress Dowager, who was lying sickly on the bed, could not lie down anymore.
The next morning, she asked Auntie Shen to help her up to the golden hall. “How’s the truth of the case? Lord Ye is still investigating. Before the case is completely investigated, Elder Han and all the descendants of the Han family in the court should return to the residence to rest well. Don’t cause any unnecessary disputes in the court, lest it delays the court matters.”
Elder Han was naturally unconvinced and immediately knelt down. “The
Empress Dowager’s actions are really biased…”
Elder Yu immediately couldn’t help but scold him, “The Han Clan is a famous family in Xi’an. You can be said to be the model of the n.o.ble families in the North.’
Elder Han acutely felt that this was probably not a good thing, but it was also the truth. He couldn’t say no and brace himself to deal with it.
Indeed!
“However.” Elder Yu changed the topic and his words became sharp. “Previously, there were n.o.bles from the North who joined forces to forge groundless crimes and harmed King Li of Zhou’s residence. Later, there were n.o.bles from the North who reverted to their old ways, slandered Princess Shaoyi, and framed King Yue Fei. The n.o.bles of the North looked down on the rules of the court, provoked the dignity of the royal family, ignored the royal family, and deceived the emperor. It was treason. This is also the truth.”
These words directly poked at Elder Han’s lungs. “Elder Yu, don’t speak nonsense. In King Li of Zhou’s case, all the people involved have already…”
Lord Qi interrupted him. “l think that Elder Yu is right. Since the Han Clan prides themselves on being the number one family in Shaanxi, they represent all the aristocratic families in Shaanxi. In Liu Dagen’s case, Princess Shaoyi and Yue Fei were the ones who were affected. This is a serious matter. The Han Clan is not qualified to continue partic.i.p.ating in the court affairs until they are cleared of suspicion.” The court officials chimed in.
Elder Han and the others knelt on the ground with a thud. ‘Empress Dowager, the Han Clan has been loyal to the emperor for generations. We definitely have no disrespect for the Imperial Court and the royal family…”
“Shut up.” The Empress Dowager shouted sternly, “Princess Shaoyi’s visit to the North was unanimously facilitated by me and the court officials. You, the n.o.bles of the North, wantonly publicized that Princess Shaoyi was lawless and caused chaos. Are you going to charge me with the crime of having a harem to manage politics and cause chaos?”
Although Elder Han was dissatisfied with the royalists and had used Princess Shaoyi’s reputation to succeed in the court, he only dared to be dissatisfied in his heart and immediately did not dare to say anything else.
“More than ten areas in the North have all suffered from drought. More than 20 million people have been affected, and four to five million people have fled the wilderness. However, less than two million people have really escaped to Liaodong alive. Longcheng is the gateway to the three places in the capital. Currently, more than a million refugees are gathered, and there’s only one gate between them and the capital.” The Empress Dowager’s voice was indifferent. “As long as the refugees can’t be settled, can everyone here rest easy?”
Elder Han’s heart was in his throat. The Empress Dowager’s meaning was obvious. The commoners were suffering, but the n.o.bles of the North did not want to donate to the refugees and were still busy fighting.
What about the lives of the commoners?
Where was the Imperial Court’s law?
Where was the Great Zhou?
The Empress Dowager asked in a low voice, “May 1 ask, why did the Imperial Court issue a national policy to settle the refugees in Liaodong back then?” No one in the court dared to answer.
The Empress Dowager did not care and only said, “Firstly, the refugees have surged into the capital wantonly and gathered outside the city. They have already seriously threatened the stability of the capital.”
“Secondly, the area around Liaodong is closer to the affected north. The refugees fled to Liaodong, so there’s still a way out.”
“Thirdly, the land of Liaodong is vast and spa.r.s.ely populated. It can accommodate millions of refugees. The 300,000 You soldiers can also intimidate the refugees to prevent them from gathering and rioting.
“Fourthly, the Liaodong area is not affected by the drought. Princess Shaoyi has grown high-yielding sweet potatoes that can be widely planted in Liaodong. In the long term, the refugees can recuperate there.”
“Fifthly, there’s a trade route in the North. The resources in the hands of the n.o.bles can help the refugees.”
A rapid cough came from the tent. The Empress Dowager did not hide it.
Hearing this, it seemed like she wouldn’t be able to stop coughing for a while. There were also shadowy figures serving behind the tent. The court officials had different thoughts and each had their own ulterior motives.
After coughing for a while, she gradually lowered her voice. The Empress Dowager’s hoa.r.s.e voice sounded again. “At that time, when we proposed to issue a national policy in the North and settle the refugees in Liaodong, all the ministers present agreed with both hands. This was not the result of my arbitrary decision, nor was it the outcome of the harem’s political affairs.”
The area affected was the North, and the capital was the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was a place where n.o.bles gathered under the emperor’s rule. It was the most prosperous place in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.
In the eyes of the commoners, even the food between the fingers of the people in the capital was enough for them to live. If the commoners suffered a disaster and did not run to the capital, where else could they run to?
If they had not issued a national policy at that time, there would only have been more and more refugees in the suburbs of the capital. Closing the city gate was only a temporary plan. If the Imperial Court had continued to do nothing and did not think of a way to settle the refugees, the Great Zhou Dynasty would have erupted and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
At that time, in the entire northern area of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only the Liaodong area was still willing to accept refugees and set up refugee camps. Only then did the court officials think of this method to divert the trouble.
The Empress Dowager paused for a moment and continued, “Now that more than a million refugees have arrived in Liaodong, the refugees are everywhere. The situation of the frequent riots has been resolved. All of you are stable and have a peace of mind. Do you want to burn the bridge after crossing the river and quit your job to shirk your responsibilities? Do you want to completely give this hot potato to King Yue Fei?”
These words were so straightforward that no one could refute them.
The reason why Elder Han and the other northern n.o.bles dared to brush off the national policy was because it was the responsibility of King Yue Fei and the local government if anything happened in the camp.
Even if King Yue Fei did not want to be interrogated by the Imperial Court, he would settle the matter of the refugees.
Of course, even if something happened, what about the 300,000 You soldiers? It wasn’t to the extent that they couldn’t suppress a group of mobs. The mobs couldn’t threaten them anyway.
After that, it would be even better if King Yue Fei was questioned by the Imperial Court.
Otherwise, if King Yue Fei took in refugees, his reputation in the Great Zhou would rise. At that time, his status as a va.s.sal lord would not be restricted.
Instead, the n.o.bles in the North would be restricted.
Compared to the va.s.sal lords, the n.o.bles were much less of a threat to the Imperial Court.
The Imperial Court would not really do anything to the n.o.bles.
At most, when the matter of the n.o.bles skimping on the national policy was exposed, they would push a group of young n.o.bles out to take the blame..