The last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty were a turbulent era. Since the two generations of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, the imperial power has been weakening day by day, and the power struggle between eunuchs and relatives is like a turbulent undercurrent, constantly eroding this once glorious empire. During the reigns of Emperor Huan Liu Zhi and Emperor Ling Liu Hong, the politics were dark, corruption was rampant, and the situation of eunuch dictatorship became increasingly serious. During this period, the eunuchs used the "disaster of the party" to crack down on dissidents and purge scholars, which caused the entire government to fall into great chaos. In "The Teacher's Table", Zhuge Liang was deeply saddened by this and regarded it as the main reason for the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
It was getting late, and the night breeze blew cool through the streets of Chang'an. Liu Hong, the Emperor of Han Ling, was sitting in the secret room of the palace, talking in a low voice with the eunuchs around him. The Spirit Emperor's face was gloomy, and a trace of cunning light flashed in his eyes.
"Zhang Rang, you're right, these scholars are too arrogant and must be purged." The Spirit Emperor said coldly.
Zhang Rang, a treacherous eunuch, smiled slightly and replied: "Your Majesty is wise, they think too highly of themselves and forget who is the master of this big man. Just one small charge is enough to keep them from turning over forever. ”
"It's 'forming a party for personal gain', this crime is enough!" Emperor Ling nodded, a sneer on the corner of his mouth.
Thus, a purge of scholars began. In the years that followed, hundreds of doctors were implicated and imprisoned, and some even lost their families. Li Ying, Liu Shu and a number of other celebrities became victims of this political storm.
One day, Emperor Ling of Han summoned a young scholar named Liu Biao. Liu's face was awe-inspiring, and he looked directly into the eyes of the Spirit Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the minister is not guilty, and the minister is dedicated to serving the Han Dynasty!" Liu Biao argued loudly.
The Spirit Emperor sneered and said, "Hmph, do you think I don't know the small movements behind you people?" Zhang Rang! ”
Zhang Rang stepped forward and displayed a so-called "incriminating evidence" in his hand, which was densely filled with the names of Liu Biao and his colleagues.
"Liu Biao, do you still want to quibble? Your party should have been eliminated a long time ago! The Spirit Emperor said angrily.
Liu Biao was escorted away, and that night, outside Chang'an City, the moonlight was like blood. In the homes of many scholars, there were many cries, and countless wise people's dreams were broken here.
The scourge of the party lasted for many years, and finally when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, this absurd political persecution was temporarily stopped because the imperial court was in dire need of talents. In the last few years of Emperor Ling's reign, the intrigues and intrigues in the palace were still continuous, but he had no time to take care of them, and the Eastern Han Empire was crumbling. When Emperor Ling died, all he left behind was a mess and a power vacuum, which eventually led to the beginning of the famous era of secession.
In the long river of history, the reign of Emperor Huan Ling was sung as a dark chapter by later generations. Through their stories, we get a glimpse of how power eats away at the soul of an empire and how it puts one's talent in dire straits. Zhuge Liang's hatred in "The Teacher's Table" is not only the personal hatred of the Second Emperor Huan Ling, but also the deep emotion of the wise man's dream and the devastation of his talents in that era. All this reminds us: the key to the rise and fall of a country lies in employing people; The way to govern the country is to be wise. Officialdom is like a play, and we, outside the play, should remember history, be vigilant against the corrosion of power, and cherish every warrior who speaks out for social justice. On the road of pursuing development, only by adhering to the balance between justice and wisdom can we ensure the healthy development and long-term peace and stability of society.