"Whoosh!"

As Cao Song resigned, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Everyone stared in disbelief at Cao Song's serious expression.

"What does the Grand Minister of Agriculture mean by this?"

Liu Hong also feigned surprise as he looked at Cao Song.

Cao Song said with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, ten years ago when I took office as Minister of Ceremonies, I embezzled a great deal of money and grain. The Prefect of Dongjun whom I recommended also embezzled and committed illegal acts, and the Magistrate of Luoyang whom I recommended..."

Now, reflecting on this, I feel deeply ashamed and have no face to face Your Majesty. I am guilty...! I beg Your Majesty to dismiss me from my post and uphold justice..."

As he spoke, Cao Song was already in tears, feeling deeply ashamed of the mistakes he had made in the past.

Seeing this, Liu Hong quickly said, "Hey, as the saying goes, it's never too late to correct your mistakes! Although the Grand Minister of Agriculture made a mistake, he corrected it in time, and you've already donated all that money, that's enough!"

Cao Song shook his head: "Your Majesty... a mistake is a mistake! You cannot let it go just because I have corrected it!"

If that's the case, and everyone starts saying "make a mistake and correct it," then what about those who have never made a mistake...?

"this....."

Cao Song's words left everyone speechless.

Yes, you've laid down your butcher's knife and become a Buddha, but what about those who were slaughtered? Weren't they wronged?

Are those who never took up the butcher's knife wronged?

Seeing the scene inside the hall, a hint of smugness flashed deep in Liu Hong's eyes as he sat on the throne.

Liu Hong then said in a deep voice, "Very well... In that case, let's temporarily remove Cao Song from his position as Grand Minister of Agriculture... There's no need to pursue the matter further, after all, he did make many contributions during his tenure as Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

Seeing that the emperor had no intention of pursuing his mistakes, Cao Song was moved to tears!

The people inside the hall were also shocked by what they saw.

Cao Song was one of the emperor's most favored people, yet he was dismissed just because of a single sentence, and it was even because of an old grudge from more than ten years ago.

Everyone was puzzled. What happened? How did things suddenly turn out like this?

"No, Your Majesty..."

Just then, Situ Hu Guang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to Liu Hong.

Liu Hong's brow twitched: "Hmm~, what does Situ have to say?"

Hu Guang respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, although Cao Jugao has made mistakes in the past, he has always been diligent and conscientious since taking office as the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and has managed the national treasury in an orderly manner!"

During this period, he was also in charge of agricultural tools and water conservancy, and his contributions were so great that they outweighed his demerits!

Chen Fan also stepped forward: "Yes, Your Majesty, the court's various reforms are at a critical juncture, and there is currently no suitable candidate to serve as the Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

Your subject believes that it would be appropriate to temporarily appoint Cao Song to preside over the affairs of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, allowing him to atone for his crimes through meritorious service.

"The Grand Tutor is right!"

Li Ying also stepped forward to plead for Cao Song.

"We second that proposal!!"

Immediately, most officials echoed this sentiment and pleaded for leniency.

Liu Hong nodded. "What you all say is true. In that case, let Cao Song temporarily assume the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture and observe his performance!"

"Your Majesty is wise!!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

Cao Song also bowed solemnly to Liu Hong to express his gratitude, and then said in a deep voice:

"However, merit is merit and demerit is demerit. Only by clearly distinguishing between reward and punishment can we win the hearts and minds of the people."

Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to revoke the Cao family's tax exemption privileges as a warning to others!

Liu Hong nodded: "What Cao Qing said is right, let's do it that way!"

The matter of Cao Song's dismissal from office was thus brought to a turn, which made many astute people realize that something was amiss.

"Your Majesty, the Prefect of Hedong whom I recommended has been corrupt and lawless during his tenure. In order to uphold the law, I request Your Majesty to dismiss me from my position as Grand Tutor!"

Just as everyone was pondering, Chen Fan stood up with a look of regret and resigned from his post to Liu Hong, leaving everyone stunned.

Liu Hong hurriedly said, "Oh, that happened before I ascended the throne. What does it have to do with the Grand Tutor?"

The Grand Tutor is the head of all officials and my teacher; how can he leave so easily?

Chen Fan's attitude was firm: "That may be true, but mistakes must be investigated and the law must not be abandoned. I hope Your Majesty will uphold justice and fairness!"

Liu Hong hesitated and said, "If that's the case, then let's do as Minister Cao did, have Minister Chen temporarily assume the position of Grand Tutor, and revoke Minister Chen's tax exemption privileges, how about that?"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

Chen Fan bowed deeply to Liu Hong with a grateful expression, then returned to the ranks.

Only then did everyone in the hall realize what was happening, and they all looked at the emperor, Cao Song, Chen Fan, and the others with solemn expressions.

After all the commotion caused by Cao Song and Chen Fan, the issue has once again come to the topic of tax-free privileges.

The difference this time is that the issue has been pushed onto the officials.

Of the officials in the palace, with very few exceptions, almost all of them had made mistakes to some extent, and the number of people they recommended who had also made mistakes was not small.

Now, without exception, all officials are facing a difficult choice.

Is it better to protect one's official position or to protect tax-exempt privileges?

For a moment, the officials in the hall were in a state of confusion, especially Li Jing and others. They never expected that things would suddenly turn out this way because of just a governor of Henan.

"Your Majesty, I request that I be relieved of my post as Minister of Works..."

"Your Majesty, I request that I be relieved of my post as Minister of Justice...!"

"Your Majesty, I request that I be relieved of my post as Grand Herald..."

"Your Majesty, I request that you be exempted..."

Just as the officials were at a loss, Yuan Feng, Xun Shuang, Yang Ci, and other high-ranking officials stepped forward to resign from their posts before Liu Hong.

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