HLnovel Chapter 371 Chen Dong's Death
Chapter 371 Chen Dong's Death
"But the Southern Song Dynasty still lasted for more than a hundred years. Whether the economy recovered or the people were able to recuperate, we'll have to wait and see."
"For example, one of Li Gang's strategies was to suggest that wealthy and powerful families pay for military expenses, and remember that it should be voluntary, but the court should not force them."
"If people like this had this kind of awareness, how could Emperor Chongzhen have failed to raise military funds in the end, and why would Emperor Yongzheng have needed to take such drastic measures?"
Lin Ke's words were undeniably hurtful, prompting a flood of comments on the screen.
For example, the two people who were hurt by this comment were the first to comment:
Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty: Don't say anything! Ouch...
Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty: If they were reliable, I could write my name backwards!
Ming Dynasty onlookers: Zheng Yong??
A spoiled young master from the Song Dynasty: You idiot! His name is Yinzhen.
Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty: Do we really have to look at this name backwards to see what it means??
Shangguan Wan'er of the Tang Dynasty; it seems that in the later period of the Song Dynasty, the pro-war faction never prevailed over the pro-peace faction, and even if it did, it was only for a short time.
The First Emperor, Zulong: It's because Zhao Gou and his people didn't really want to resist the Jin.
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: The rest are all pretty much the same, aren't they?
......
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty
The comments on the screen were so powerful that Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, in another timeline was speechless, unable to say anything.
What these bastards did! How could their ancestor possibly describe it? Exploiting the people and currying favor with the Jurchens! Zhao Huan's surrender document was utterly disgusting!
How could Zhao Guangyi have such descendants?
They're brothers, so why didn't Zhao Xu turn out badly?
.......
During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty
Upon hearing this, the courtiers couldn't help but feel sorry for Li Gang. What good would it do now if the emperor wouldn't listen to him? All his efforts would be in vain!
Perhaps all the previous plans will be interrupted because of his departure.
As the saying goes, comparisons are odious, but when it comes to the position of emperor, their Emperor is still the best. If they had been stuck with emperors like Huizong and Qinzong, they would have been driven crazy with worry!
Thinking of this, their gazes toward Li Shimin held a touch of relief.
The courtiers: Thank goodness their Emperor is the Second Emperor!
Li Shimin, with goosebumps: What's wrong with these people? They give me the creeps!
.....
Meanwhile, in the live stream room.
Lin Ke continued, "Li Gang is too tough and upright, which makes him very easy to offend people in officialdom."
"Especially the surrender-faction officials led by Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan, because Li Gang supported the war effort."
"Some of his strategies were bound to anger the surrender-oriented officials, so these people disliked him extremely."
"But regarding the discussions about Li Gang, even before he became the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, there were already people in the court who objected to his appointment."
"For example, there was a censor named Yan Qi who once advised Zhao Gou that Li Gang was the most hated person by the Jin people. How could we appoint someone our uncle disliked as an official?"
"It is hard to imagine that a court official would use the likes and dislikes of the Jurchens as the standard for appointing officials. This is too outrageous. Zhao Gou was also uncomfortable with this, so he did not agree."
"As we mentioned before, Li Gang proposed reducing unnecessary officials, which infringed upon the interests of the bureaucratic group."
"Opposition to him grew stronger, and it whispered in Zhao Gou's ear like a pillow talk, becoming more and more frequent."
“How could the Zhao family possibly insist on fighting? Like his older brother Zhao Huan, they have gradually become wary of Li Gang.”
"Li Gang served as prime minister for several months, working diligently. However, when Zhang Jun impeached him for monopolizing state affairs, he realized that the court could not tolerate him. Therefore, in August of the first year of Jianyan, Zhao Gou dismissed Li Gang from his post as prime minister."
When Lin Ke's voice came, everyone was speechless. Last time, Li Gang was demoted after the Battle of Tokyo. This time it's just the same old story, they're all the same!
At this moment, comments flooded the screen, each one filled with righteous indignation:
Empress Qing of the Great Han Dynasty: I don't think they want to fight at all!
Fang Xuanling of the Tang Dynasty: The direction of the court and the will of the emperor should be consistent. If Zhao Gou had not wanted to seek peace, those people would not have been so agitated!
Zhu Gaochi of the Ming Dynasty: We get so angry just looking at the Zhao family's spineless attitude!
A Qin official said: "With such actions at the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty, it's no wonder that it never gained any strength before its demise!"
On the other side, the Northern Song emperor, seeing so many comments criticizing his Zhao family, felt neither justified nor confident.
The only thought that crossed their minds at that moment was: Another day of humiliation!!!
If this father and his sons were all in front of them, they would definitely beat them so badly that even their father wouldn't be able to hold back!
.......
"It was obvious to everyone that Li Gang was leaving office for a reason, but they were happy to see it happen, so no officials stood up for him."
"Besides Chen Dong, the leader of the Imperial Academy students, he was also the one who protested when Emperor Qinzong dismissed Li Gang last time, and he is still dissatisfied with Zhang Jun's impeachment of Li Gang this time."
He said, "If His Majesty doesn't use Li Gang, then Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan could become prime ministers next?"
"The most brilliant line is this: If Zhao Huan returns, how will Your Majesty conduct yourself?"
"Zhao Gou never wanted to welcome back the two emperors. Chen Dong's words hit him where it hurt and were a major taboo!"
"Ouyang Che, a commoner, also submitted a petition to protest alongside him. However, compared to Chen Dong's words, this man was more direct and gave Zhao Gou a good scolding."
"For example, he criticized Zhao Gou for being unambitious; while the front lines were still fighting the Jurchens, he was already selecting concubines!!"
Ouyang Che, dressed in plain clothes: You old lecher!!!
What?! Zhao Gou actually wants to choose concubines?!
This news left the Zhao family completely stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.
Even people from other timelines couldn't believe it; this was just too outrageous! What time is this?!
In times of peace, it would be one thing to fill the harem, after all, he is the emperor!
But we have both external enemies and internal troubles now, why do we have to think about this?
At this moment, people from other timelines couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh, feeling both disappointed and sorrowful.
That guy really felt powerless against the Zhao family!
……
The live broadcast continues.
"Ouyang Che's memorial can be said to have pierced Zhao Gou's heart again. He once told his ministers that he disliked spending long periods of time with women, and he publicly proclaimed himself to be pure and abstinent."
"But in reality, Zhao Gou was a lecherous old man. In doing so, wouldn't everyone be laughing at him? These two men have both hit Zhao Gou's sore spot."
"At this moment, Zhang Jun, not content with the chaos, came out to fan the flames, submitting a memorial to slander Li Gang and Chen Dong's gang as treacherous villains!"
"The Song Dynasty is most famous for not killing scholar-officials. Although it was not absolute, it did so most of the time."
"However, Zhao Gou, before the Southern Song Dynasty had even been properly restored, began his first move, killing Chen Dong and Ouyang Che!"
"Chen Dong, ever since he protested for Li Gang during the Jingkang Incident, already knew his fate, so he always carried a coffin with him,"
"In the end, he ate a meal, wrote his will, and then slowly waited for his death."
"So, on the fifth day after Li Gang was dismissed from his post as prime minister, Chen Dong and Ouyang Che were beheaded in the East Market."
"The rule set by Emperor Taizu of Song was that scholars and officials and those who submitted memorials should not be killed. However, Zhao Gou broke this ancestral rule in less than a year after he ascended the throne."
"It can be said that Zhao Gou's move set a bad precedent. In the past, the worst outcome for civil officials in political struggles was exile to places like Lingnan, leaving them to fend for themselves!"
"But now that a scholar-official has been beheaded by the emperor, can the political struggles of the Southern Song Dynasty develop in this direction from here on out?!"
Northern Song Dynasty official: ...
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: This bastard…! ? %…
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: This grandson is incredibly destructive when he gets into trouble!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: The political struggles were probably even worse than in the Northern Song Dynasty! After all, they had already opened the door to the "Shark Ministers"!
Sang Hongyang of the Great Han Dynasty: What was Zhao Gou thinking, killing two scholars, and influential scholars at that!?
In another timeline, Zhao Gou was enraged upon seeing the comments on the screen. How dare they say such things about him!
I am the Son of Heaven! Why can't I touch these two scholars?!
……
Unaware of Zhao Gou's inner thoughts, Lin Ke continued, "As the leader of the Imperial Academy students, Chen Dong also has influence among the people in the city."
"Therefore, Zhao Gou's killing of Chen Dong really caused a huge uproar. Earlier, Li Gang had helped him establish his prestige and increase the people's confidence in Zhao Gou."
"People at the time still had high expectations for this newly enthroned monarch."
"I just never expected that not long after Li Gang left, and only for a few months in total, this guy couldn't keep up the act anymore!"
"Since they actually did such a thing, the people felt sorry for Chen Dong and Ouyang Che, and began to re-examine Zhao Gou."
"Perhaps, this emperor is not the wise and capable monarch they imagine him to be at all."