Bai Juyi, who was rude to the emperor

Bai Juyi was a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, who not only wrote poetry well, but also was loyal and loyal to people, and everyone praised him.

In the fourth year of Yuan He, there was a drought, and Emperor Xianzong of Tang issued an edict to reduce taxes and reduce taxes. Bai Juyi saw that the provisions in the edict on the matter of reducing or waiving the extreme rabbit were not detailed, so the counselor said: "The drought is fierce, and Your Majesty should be exempted from taxes in Jianghuai and Huaibei for the sake of health, so as to show His Majesty's kindness." ”

He also suggested that some of the palace ladies be dismissed. Tang Xianzong summoned him to this end and said, "You do not hesitate to pay money, but you seem to be insufficient in benevolence and righteousness. ”

Bai Ju easily saw Tang Xianzong's angry look, but still insisted: "The people are all his majesty's sons and daughters, and his majesty should not be stingy with money." The subject thinks of His Majesty's country and mountains, although the words are ugly, but there is no selfishness, and His Majesty's blame, the minister does not dare to accept. ”

Although Tang Xianzong accepted his suggestion, his heart was very unhappy.

Hedong Daojiedu made Wang Yi greedy and hypocritical, and he disregarded the suffering of the people, did everything possible to collect taxes, and then donated some of the looted money to the imperial court to deceive Tang Xianzong's favor. Tang Xianzong was really confused by him, and did not say anything about his praise, but also appointed him as the prime minister. Bai Juyi spoke bluntly about this, and said sharply: "Wang Yi has cheated and harmed the people, and if His Majesty makes him a minister, people will say that His Majesty will make him prime minister because he has received money from him, which will greatly damage His Majesty's reputation." In such a chaotic way, the country's laws and regulations will be in chaos, can His Majesty bear to see this happen? ”

When Wang Chengzong rebelled, Tang Xianzong asked the eunuch Tutu Chengcui to command the army to fight, bai Juyi was unable to give advice, he did not lie and said bluntly: "Your Majesty is wrong, I am in the system, every conquest gives all rights to the commander-in-chief, there is no precedent for eunuchs to be generals, eunuchs know nothing about marching and fighting, if they have this supreme command, how can they win the battle?" I am afraid that the neighboring countries will despise our country, and Your Majesty will also bear the charge of improper employment, hoping that His Majesty will take back his life. ”

When Tang Xianzong saw him say this in public, his attitude was fierce and he was very angry. Not only did he not listen to Bai Juyi's advice, but he also said with hatred in private: "Bai Juyi was hand-picked by me, and he dared to be so rude, I can no longer stand him!" ”

The chancellor Li Dai interceded for Bai Juyi: "Bai Juyi can speak out and speak out, this is all the result of His Majesty's ability to accommodate advice and have a broad mind, and His Majesty's virtues are well known to everyone, so why change it?" If Bai Juyi is driven away, it will block the mouths of everyone, so that everyone will think about their own future and dare not enter the advice again. ”

Tang Xianzong endured and endured, and no longer pursued Bai Juyi's crime of disrespect, but his resentment towards Bai Juyi did not diminish in the slightest. Afterwards, Li Dai persuaded Bai Juyi to say: "You speak bluntly, you should not be careless and make the emperor angry." The emperor is the lord of the world, how can he withstand your public accusations? If this continues, your advice will be considered adulterous by the emperor, and your kindness will not be perceived. ”

Bai Juyi defended himself: "How can you have both?" The words of the villain are indeed beautiful, can I do it? ”

The chancellor Takemoto Heng was killed by thieves, and Kyoto was shaken. Bai Juyi was the first to write a letter requesting that the thieves be apprehended and the disgrace of the imperial court washed away. When the prime minister knew about this, he deeply thought it was evil, and he hated Bai Juyi for exceeding his authority and being rude, and he was jealous of him, so he waited for an opportunity to attack Bai Juyi. Soon, there were rumors that Bai Juyi's mother fell into the well and drowned, but Bai Juyi made a "New Well Chapter", with gorgeous and frivolous words. The chancellor took this opportunity to make a message to Tang Xianzong and said: "Baiju Yiren has no filial piety, but is no different from an animal or a beast. This kind of immoral and unjust person should have driven him out of the court long ago. ”

Tang Xianzong sneered at this time and said, "He is so shameless, but he pretends to be a righteous gentleman in his daily life, which is really hateful." ”

He immediately played the song, and Bai Juyi was easily demoted to the title of Jiangzhou Assassin and later to Sima of Jiangzhou.

Obey your superiors, even if false, is at fault. Disobeying your superiors, even if it is sincere, is also a sin.