"Your Majesty, I have a report."

During the argument between Fu Chengwang and Xiao Weilun, Imperial Censor Yu Youning stepped out and spoke.

"Permitted."

"I impeach Qingzhou Prefect Zhao Lin for secretly recruiting soldiers with ulterior motives. This is my memorial."

Yu Youning took out the memorial, and Zhu Zhongyan quickly took it and handed it to Cheng**.

Cheng ** said without even looking at it: "Didn't I tell you that Zhao Lin recruiting soldiers is my order..."

"Your Majesty, although you have permitted him to recruit soldiers, these troops must be under the control of the imperial court. However, as far as I know, Zhao Lin has never reported this to the Governor-General of Jiangbei since he began recruiting soldiers. Therefore, I believe he has ulterior motives."

"What could he possibly be up to with just 20,000 men?" Cheng** said impatiently, "The Jiangbei Governor has 50,000 men under his command, plus local troops from various prefectures and counties. Even if Zhao Lin has ulterior motives, what good would that do?"

"Your Majesty, please don't think like that."

Another imperial censor stepped forward and said, "Back when Taizu started his army, he had less than 20,000 men, yet he also accomplished such a great feat, didn't he?"

Cheng ** said angrily: "Are you saying that our court is worse than the last period of the previous dynasty?"

The censor quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I meant that even with 20,000 soldiers, we can accomplish great things."

"Humph, if 20,000 soldiers can accomplish great things, it only proves that all of you are good-for-nothings and deserve to die." Cheng** said angrily.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

Yu Youning and the censor quickly knelt down.

Yu Youning cried out, "I'm not being nosy, but I'm thinking about the court. If Zhao Lin were to do something, even if we could put him out, it would still cause enormous losses and damage the reputation of Your Majesty and the court."

Cheng** asked impatiently: "So what do you want to say?"

Yu Youning said, "I understand your majesty's intention. Asking Zhao Lin to recruit soldiers is to better collect the Flower and Stone Tax. However, Zhao Lin is a prefect, so he only needs to recruit soldiers. Everything else should be left to professionals."

Xiao Weilun suddenly asked: "Could this professional be referring to Lord Yu?"

Yu Youning said sternly, "Master Xiao, you're joking. I'm just a censor, how can I know how to lead troops? But Master Xiao is the Minister of War, and this is exactly your responsibility. How about recommending someone?"

Xiao Weilun was shocked.

This old man Yu Youning is not a good person.

If I really want to recommend someone to take over the soldiers in Zhao Lin's hands.

Apart from anything else, he must have offended Zhao Lin.

We are all members of the eunuch party, so how can we fight among ourselves?

Xiao Weilun's face darkened and he shouted, "It seems that Lord Yu, the censor, is really just making random comments without caring about the actual situation at all."

Yu Youning frowned and asked, "Why do you say that, Master Xiao?"

Xiao Weilun said, "Master Yu, do you know that although Zhao Lin was the garrison commander and those 20,000 soldiers were under his command, he never questioned them. Since recruiting enough soldiers, Zhao Lin has never been to the barracks again. Everything is under the responsibility of General Yang Nantian. Master Yu's claim that Zhao Lin trained private soldiers and had illegal intentions is completely nonsense."

Yu Youning's heart sank, as he had not received such news.

But Yu Youning was not ready to finish.

This is what these censors and imperial officials rely on.

Impeach anyone you dislike, and as long as the impeachment is successful, it is a huge victory.

What's more, this time he has other intentions.

Yu Youning stood up and asked, "How does Lord Xiao know so much? Is he connected to an outsider?"

Xiao Weilun said, "I am the Minister of War, so naturally I need to know about the Ministry's affairs. Zhao Lin has been reporting truthfully to the Ministry since the recruitment began. I have also sent people to investigate. Even General Yang Nantian praised Zhao Lin for knowing the boundaries and how to advance and retreat. If you don't believe me, you can go and ask General Yang in person."

Yu Youning asked, "What if Yang Nantian is deliberately covering up for Zhao Lin?"

"Yu Youning, what are you doing?"

Xiao Weilun shouted, "General Yang is devoted to his country, his loyalty is clear as day and moon. You actually said he was colluding with Zhao Lin and had other intentions. I think you are the one with other intentions."

Yu Youning said, "I am only discussing the matter at hand, nothing else."

"Oh, it's good to stick to the facts."

Xiao Weilun sneered and said, "It seems that among all the civil and military officials in the court, only you and Master Fu are loyal."

"absurd!"

Hearing Xiao Weilun dragging himself into this, Fu Chengwang shouted: "This official and Lord Yu have the same opinion. The military power must be taken back."

Xiao Weilun said, "You are just after those 20,000 soldiers. Don't talk about loyalty or not. Since you don't trust General Yang, you can recommend your own people to replace him. I think General Yang will be happy to return to Beijing to rest."

Yu Youning quickly said, "Master Xiao, this is wrong. What do you mean by 'our people'? They are all His Majesty's people. We just want to recommend someone His Majesty can trust."

When it comes to speaking, who can beat the censors?

This gang makes a living by talking.

Xiao Weilun was too lazy to talk nonsense with them.

These people came prepared, so no matter how much you say, it will be useless.

So Xiao Weilun simply overturned the table.

Xiao Weilun said, "Your Majesty, I believe Zhao Lin and Yang Nantian have no ulterior motives. But since Lord Fu and Lord Yu both think they do, then we should send someone they trust. This will save them from having to fight in the front while someone else holds them back."

Fu Chengwang and Yu Youning were so angry that their mouths were crooked.

"Who said we were lagging behind?"

"We are doing this for the sake of the court."

The two wanted to blame Xiao Weilun, but Xiao Weilun was too lazy to argue with them and just stood back in his own queue without saying a word.

Zhu Zhongyan leaned in closer and whispered, "Your Majesty, Yang Nantian's father, General Yang, died on the battlefield. Yang Nantian also followed Your Majesty in three expeditions to the Northern Di. His loyalty is evident, comparable to that of the Marquis of Zhenbei. When he led the troops, it was Your Majesty who led the troops. Now someone wants to replace him, only then do they have ulterior motives."

Cheng **'s face darkened and he looked at Yu Youning: "Who do you want to recommend to replace Yang Nantian?"

Yu Youning was delighted and said, "I recommend General Ma Changshan, the younger brother of General Dingyuan Ma Dada. Ma Changshan has always followed General Ma on the battlefield. If he goes, the rebellion will be quelled in no time."

Cheng** said indifferently, "Really?"

Although Cheng Yu was incompetent, no matter whether he was a wise ruler or a foolish ruler, his skills in political struggle were all maxed out.

After hearing Zhu Zhongyan's analysis, Cheng ** knew that Yu Youning and his gang had something against him.

Otherwise, why would you steal your own soldiers?

Is this Ma Changshan more loyal than Yang Nantian?

He had never heard of Ma Changshan's name.

"I also recommend General Ma Changshan."

At this moment, Prime Minister Li Chengqian stepped forward and said, "General Ma Changda is a man of exceptional military and literary talents. His brother must be quite capable, and he's a perfect fit to quell the rebellion."

Everyone looked at Li Chengqian strangely.

Yu Youning is obviously a member of Prince Yu's party. How can you, a member of the Prince's party, come out to speak for them?