The most arrogant in history

Chapter 450: Another pretender.

Gongsun Erniang has collected a number of clues about the crimes of corrupt officials and submitted them to Ye Kun.

Ye Kun took a look and nodded:

"Then we'll investigate this group first. After we've investigated thoroughly, we'll take the corrupt officials to the city gates and put them in shackles for at least five days to let the people know our determination!"

Everyone wants to save face.

Being humiliated and put on display in public is often more fatal than beheading.

For example, a county magistrate is usually high and mighty and bullies the common people. Once he is found to have committed corruption and abuse of power, he will be put in shackles and displayed to the public for three days in front of the city gate. The common people who are usually bullied will come and curse him. This is very shameful!

The laws of later generations should protect privacy and the dignity of suspects or criminals.

But there was no such thing in ancient times!

Ye Kun abolished the system of collective responsibility and the practice of exiling the criminals' families and selling their female relatives to brothels. He only held the parties involved accountable and retained the shackles for public display, which was already very tolerant.

After the meeting, Ye Kun left Wu Qiong, Ma Zhao and Gongsun Erniang to continue to implement relevant details to ensure the smooth operation of the supervisory agency.

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Feng's son Zhuge Hui came to report the death of his father Zhuge Feng.

"What, the military advisor passed away?"

Ye Kun was stunned and stood there in a daze.

"Yes, my father died."

Zhuge Hui, with tears in his eyes, presented his father's suicide note: "This is the suicide note my father wrote to the King of Han before he died."

Ye Kun stood up, took the suicide note and read it.

The suicide note was written with deep emotion, recalling the ten years he and Ye Kun had spent together and speaking highly of Ye Kun.

Finally, he also advised Ye Kun to take over the throne as soon as possible and beware of the Huns in the north.

Wu Qiong and others stood up together and waited for Ye Kun's arrangements.

Ye Kun read the letter and shed tears:

"Lord Zhuge has been with me through dangers, from Dongba County to Yizhou, and then to Hanzhong, Xiangyang, and Jinling. He has devoted all his energy and efforts to the unification of China, and his contributions are great.

It's a pity that I still didn't take Liaodong. As a result, Lord Zhuge didn't see the final unification of China before his death.

Pass on my order to set up a funeral team for Master Zhuge. I will be the team leader, Guan Yafu Sang Buyi will be the deputy team leader, and the nine ministers will assist in the funeral of Master Zhuge Feng. Report to the emperor to posthumously confer the title of…King of Langya on Master Zhuge Feng.”

Zhuge Feng's ancestral home was Langya, so Ye Kun posthumously conferred the title of King of Langya on him.

Everyone clasped their fists and accepted the order, then headed to Zhuge Feng's mansion.

Zhuge Feng was relatively honest. His mansion in Xuchang was also the old residence of Xiahou Chang's subordinate, a mere three courtyards.

There are more than a dozen servants in the house, and they are all honest.

Zhuge Feng had only two sons. The eldest son, Zhuge Hui, followed him to work, and the second son was still leading troops in the military camp.

However, Zhuge Hong, the grandson of Zhuge Feng and the son of Zhuge Hui, had also grown up and was now a teenager of fifteen or sixteen years old, handsome, intelligent and steady.

Guan Yafu was also old, and he came to Zhuge's house in person to write the eulogy with Sang Buyi.

Ye Kun came to express condolences and allocated 500 taels of gold for Zhuge Feng's funeral.

Three days later, Zhuge Feng's funeral was held.

Ye Kun personally carried the coffin, and Gongsun Zhang also came to see him off.

The funeral is over.

Zhuge Feng was temporarily buried in the north of Xuchang City, overlooking the direction of Zhuojun and Liaodong.

Ye Kun toasted in front of the tomb and said solemnly:

“Rest in peace, Master Zhuge. I, Ye Kun, will continue to work hard with all of you colleagues to conquer Liaodong, conquer the prairie, and build a lasting foundation for China!”

Zhuge Hui and his son Zhuge Hong knelt down to express their gratitude.

Ye Kun comforted Zhuge Hui: "When your mourning period is over, you can inherit your father's will and serve the country. I mourned for my mother for a period of 49 days. I will also give you a 49-day leave, and then I will arrange your position."

Zhuge Hui is the son of an old friend, so Ye Kun can employ him with confidence.

Zhuge Hui said: "When the King of Han attacks Liaodong in the future, I am willing to be the vanguard."

"When the time comes, you can travel with the army and serve as my advisor."

Ye Kun nodded, led the team to say goodbye, and let Zhuge Hui observe mourning.

When he returned home, Ye Kun felt a little emotional.

Zhuge Hui was gone, Guan Yafu was old and frail, and Wen Axiu's father, Wen Qi, was also in his fifties and considered an old man.

I still lack capable generals around me.

The next day, when the meeting was over, Ye Kun asked everyone to stay for a while and said:

"Lord Zhuge Feng has passed away, and Lord Guan Bao is also old. Everyone here is also not young anymore. When our team gets old, what will we do with the successors? So, if you know any talented people, please feel free to recommend them."

Xue Changfeng stood up and said, "There is a man in the suburbs of Xuchang who is famous for his writings. His name is Liu Ai. He is in his thirties and can be of great use."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "If you can only write about romance and the like, then you don't need it."

A writer can write articles, but he may not be able to govern a country.

Xue Changfeng thought for a moment and said boldly: "Liu Ai also often discusses state affairs, which is quite innovative."

Ye Kun became interested: "Tell me in detail, what did he say?"

Xue Changfeng smiled: "Liu Ai said that the King of Han is a madman and a genius. But to govern a country, neither a madman nor a genius can do it. Only systems and laws can do it."

Ye Kun frowned: "Improving the system and laws is what we have always done. This is nothing new."

"Liu Ai also said that to attack Xiahou Chang, we can use the strategy of driving away the wolf and killing the tiger, deploy troops on the Liao Sea, and force Xiahou Chang to attack Goguryeo. Within two years, Xiahou Chang and Goguryeo will both be defeated, and we can reap the benefits."

"That's a good idea. I've thought about it, too."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "How about this, General Xue, you ask Liu Ai to come over here so I can talk to him."

Xue Changfeng clasped his fists and said, "This man is very arrogant. When Xiahou Chang invited him to be an official, he pretended to be sick and refused. If I go to invite him, he may not be willing to come."

Ye Kun was a little unhappy: "Do you want me to visit him and invite him in person?"

Xue Changfeng smiled bitterly: "If the King of Han visits him personally, he will naturally be convinced and serve till death."

"I understand. Let's adjourn."

Ye Kun nodded, retreated into the back hall, and called Tan Bamao to see him.

Tan Bamao was also at the meeting just now. He knew what Ye Kun was thinking and said with a smile, "Godfather, do you want me to invite Liu Ai over?"

"Yes, that's what I mean." Ye Kun nodded: "Go and invite him over. If he doesn't come, give me a rope to tie him up!"

During the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a decree that if a scholar did not serve the emperor, it would be a serious crime.

If you have the ability, you must become an official, otherwise you will be committing a crime.

This Liu Ai, who was mumbling something down there but claimed that he didn't want to be an official, is just pretending!

Ye Kun was too lazy to say anything to this kind of pretentious criminal.

After receiving the order, Tan Bamao took fifty strong soldiers and some gifts to invite Liu Ai.

Liu Ai lived in a small village north of Xuchang. His family had mulberry and hemp fields, and they could make a decent living. He farmed, read, fished, and drank every day.

When Tan Bamao arrived, Liu Ai was taking a nap at home.

The attendant stepped forward and said in a loud voice: "Mr. Liu Ai, the special envoy of King Han Ye Kun, Tan Bamao, comes to ask for an audience."