"What books?"
"In the past, when the Empress was still a Zhaoyi in the palace, in order to usurp the position of Empress, she compiled books such as' Biography of Women ',' Official Conduct ',' Hundred Ministers New Precepts', and 'Music Book' and distributed them to the world to build momentum for her. These books were written by a group of scholars around the Empress, and Miao Shenke was one of them."
Yang Fan was startled and asked, "So what?"
The official said, "Twenty years ago, the Son of Heaven was in charge, and the Empress was in charge. The government, big or small, was heard by everyone. The power of the world belonged to the Middle Palace, and they were known as the two saints. Do you know how the Empress dealt with such heavy state affairs? "
Yang Fan somewhat understood, and his expression changed slightly, "You mean …"
The official said, "Twenty years ago, the Empress personally chose a few knowledgeable and quick-witted scholars to fill the central government offices such as the Hall of Governmental Affairs, Hanlin Academy, and other central government offices. They all held positions of no more than fifth or sixth rank, but they didn't have to go through the South Office. They could directly enter the Imperial Palace from the North Gate of the Black Tortoise Gate and see the Empress at any time. Although they weren't the Prime Minister, the power of the Prime Minister was gradually stripped away by them and transferred into their hands. At that time, these people were known as the 'Scholars of the North Gate'. "
Yang Fan was stunned. He never would have thought that this Miao Shenke, whom he thought would be the easiest to deal with, was actually an important person with a greater background than Bhikkhu Shenji. Although there was no such a Prime Minister in the official circles of the Tang dynasty, he was truly an important official who helped Wu Zetian ascend to the throne step by step.
People often said that Shanghai Wan 'er was the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Tang dynasty, and this Miao Shenke was clearly the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Tang dynasty. If that was the case, then their positions were equal. However, since he was extremely trusted by Wu Zetian and had great power, why did he disappear without a trace, and why was only Shanghai Wan 'er the only one who knew of his whereabouts?
When Yang Fan asked this question, You Yishi's face revealed the smile of a profiteer. "The question that little brother has asked has too many implications. I have already said enough. So, if you want to know more, then you have to pay me another reward! "
As he spoke, he grabbed the bundle and shoved it into his arms.
…
Yang Fan held the umbrella and walked slowly in the drizzle and wind. The drizzle had soaked the front of his shirt, but he did not notice it. His thoughts were completely immersed in what You Haoyang had told him about Miao Shenke.
Wu Zetian had walked step by step to where she was today. Admittedly, she was talented and bold, but she lived deep in the inner palace. In the process of seizing power, she needed a powerful force outside the palace for her to use. This powerful force was gradually built up by herself. This power was like the two paths of Yin and Yang, divided into the two paths of the civil and the martial.
The martial artist was naturally the Plum Blossom Inner Guard, and the scholar was the Northgate Scholar.
There were six core members of the Northgate Scholar. When they were used by Wu Zetian, their positions were not high. They were the Scholar Lang Yuan Wanqing, the Left Scholar Fan Lubing, Miao Shenke, Liu Yizhi, the Right Scholar Zhou Simao, and Hu Chubin. Miao Shenke was one of them. He was one of the Six Hidden Ministers when Empress Wu replaced Gaozong to rule the Tang dynasty.
Now, where were the Six Hidden Ministers?
The Scholar Lang Yuan Wanqing was originally the Emissary of Communication. During the Qian Feng era, he followed General Li Ji on an expedition against Goryeo and became the Liaodong Chief Secretary. He was ordered to write a declaration denouncing Goryeo. Unexpectedly, this bookworm's temper flared up. In the declaration, he mocked the Goryeo for not knowing the art of war and not knowing how to defend the Yalu River.
As a result, when the Goryeo saw the declaration, they immediately sent troops to defend the Yalu River. The Tang dynasty's army repeatedly attacked but failed. They suffered heavy casualties and Yuan Wanqing was exiled outside the mountains. Later, he was pardoned and returned to the capital. He was chosen by Wu Zetian and became one of the Six Scholars of the North Gate. Now he was the Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion and the Prime Minister of the current dynasty.
The Left Minister Fan Lübing was first the Household Inspector of the Zhou Palace. Later, he became the North Gate Scholar. In twenty years, he served as the Luantai and Tianguan, the Second Assistant Minister. He was then promoted to the Minister of Spring Official (Minister of Rites) and served as the Luantai of the Phoenix Pavilion. He became the Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty. Not long ago, he was accused by Zhou Xingju of colluding with the rebels and was beheaded at the beginning of this year.
The Left Minister Liu Yizhi was the Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion and served as the third rank of the Luantai of the Phoenix Pavilion. He was also the Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty. Two years ago, Lai Junchen accused him of accepting gifts from the Governor of Gui Province, Sun Wanrong. He also had an affair with a beautiful concubine of the rebel Xu Jingye. He was sentenced to death by Empress Wu.
The Right Minister Zhou Simao was placed in an important position by Empress Wu. He was promoted to the Junior Supervisor of the Lin Tai School and became a Scholar of the Chongwen School. Last year, he was accused by Suo Yuanli of colluding with the rebels and was sentenced to death in prison.
The Right Minister Hu Chubin, also died in prison last year because of the charge of colluding with the rebels.
The six trusted aides that Wu Zetian had raised, except for Yuan Wanqing who was the Prime Minister and Miao Shenke who had disappeared, were all executed because of rebellion or colluding with the rebels. How could Wu Zetian be so bad at judging people? These people that she had personally raised were all loyal to her when she had not controlled the world. Now that Empress Wu had the power to overturn the world, they all had the intention to rebel?
Yang Fan did not need to guess to know that this was a good bow being hidden after all the birds have been killed. The Six Scholars of the North Gate had been used by Empress Wu when she had just become the Empress. After so many years, they must have grasped many secrets and secrets that Empress Wu did not want others to know. The safest way to keep secrets was, of course, to make them shut up forever.
Thus, Empress Wu began to sweep away the last obstacles before she became the Empress. But why was Yuan Wanqing still so high and mighty? Why hadn't Empress Wu made a move yet? Why was Miao Shenke still missing? If Empress Wu had already made a move, there was no need to hide the news of his death. Judging from the fate of the previous people, they must be charged with a reasonable crime.
Yang Fan let out a long sigh. It was as if he was immersed in layers of fog. This fog needed to be peeled away layer by layer, but from the Peach Blossom Village to Luoyang City, every time he peeled away a layer of fog, he felt that the fog was thicker, making it harder for him to see clearly. When would the truth be revealed?
The rain was getting heavier, the autumn rain forming a line.
The wind was also getting stronger, and the rain was slanting down on people. Yang Fan had no choice but to stop and take shelter under the eaves of a spice shop.
Upstairs, Xie Xiaoman was drinking alone.
This was a spice shop that she had opened for her Elder Brother.
She had already arranged everything for her Elder Brother's future. She had even found a wife for her Elder Brother in advance, but she still couldn't find her Elder Brother. It was possible that her Elder Brother couldn't withstand the hardships of a beggar's life. It was possible that he would die young, but Xiaoman refused to think about this problem. She firmly believed that her Elder Brother was still alive.
This persistence was not so much because of her trust in her Elder Brother, but because of the fear in her heart. She was afraid that her only relative would disappear, and she would be left alone with the sky and the earth. Then what would be the point of all her struggles?
She was originally just a little maid of Gongsun Lanzhi. She took care of the Young Lady's daily life and also practiced martial arts with the Young Lady. Her original plan was just to practice a bit more, so that her elder brother wouldn't be beaten until he vomited blood and was beaten until his head bled because of protecting her.
She was very diligent, even more diligent than Gongsun Lanzhi. She quickly displayed a talent for martial arts, so one hot summer day, she caught the eye of Aunty Xie, Aunty Xie, who happened to visit Aunty Pei's residence. At that time, she was sweating profusely as she practiced her swordsmanship under the sun. Her sweat had soaked her hair and stuck to her forehead.
Aunty Xie asked her if she was willing to come with her. Practicing martial arts might be harder, but she wouldn't have to be a servant girl anymore. She could still have a lot of power and wealth. This wasn't something that girls liked to pursue, but Niuniu agreed without hesitation. She felt that this was what her Elder Brother needed the most.
As a result, she became a member of the Plum Blossom Internal Guard. As a result, her performance became more and more outstanding, and she soon gained more favor from Aunty Xie. She became her adopted daughter and gave her a name: Xie Muwen. Later, the empress of the imperial court gave her a little name: Ah Man.
But this wasn't what she wanted. She missed her Elder Brother. She missed the Elder Brother who held her hand and ran in the rain like a fish.
Xiao Man sat under the eaves and watched the rain. The rain was thick and dense. She was so bored that she wanted to see the gaps between the raindrops, but she couldn't. The rain was falling too fast, even faster than her sword. After staring at it for a long time, she had a feeling that she was rising rapidly, as if she was going to rise into the gray sky.
So, she lowered her head to look at the ripples on the ground. She saw ripples formed by the raindrops, like epiphyllum blooming on the surface of the water. As soon as it bloomed, it withered, and then bloomed again. She didn't see anyone taking shelter from the rain under the eaves. She only heard the sound of the rain falling from the eaves hitting the surface of the umbrella.
Looking at the rain and listening to the "plop plop" sounds, she recalled the days when she squatted under the banana tree with her older brother, each holding a half-soaked bun and eating it under the rain …
Yang Fan stood under the eaves with the umbrella and waited for the rain to subside. The rain splashed on the umbrella and flowed to the ground, creating bubbles. The bubbles popped up one by one and burst one by one. No one knew where they came from or where they went.
In the distance, the giant Buddha in the "Heaven" that towered into the clouds was overlooking the entire city.
The Buddhists said that a grain of sand was a world. She wondered if this bubble was also a world. If it was a world, then in the eyes of humans, its birth and death was only a moment. But in this world, was it also an extremely long time?
In the eyes of the eternal Buddha, wasn't the world of humans also just a snap of the fingers? But whether it was short or long, in this world, being born as a human was his world. In this world, he shouldered hate and love. No matter if it was hate or love, there must be a result. This was his mission. Staring at the bubbles that popped up and then disappeared, he seemed to see the fire in the mountain village, the charred corpses, the flying head of his Elder Sister, the ugly girl with the broken teeth, and the curly-bearded man who angrily broke into the Governor's Office with a sword …
Suddenly, there was a sound of thunder in the sky. Yang Fan sighed, raised his head, and looked at the gray sky.
"Since I can't get Miao Shenke, I can only start with Qiu Shenji!"
Yang Fan gently exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and secretly made up his mind.
The rain gradually subsided. He tightened the umbrella in his hand and walked out from under the eaves.
Xiao Man sat alone in the building, watching the wind and the rain. She also saw the man in the rain. The man held an oil-paper umbrella and walked very steadily and quietly, as if he wasn't worried at all that the rain would get heavier. The wind lifted his robe slightly and then fell again. There was a faint sense of loneliness, just like Xiao Man's mood at the moment.
Xiao Man raised her hand and combed her hair. Her black and bright eyebrows slightly curved into a beautiful arc.
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