Capital, Censorate.
The candlelight was bright, but it could not dispel the heavy gloom in the meeting hall.
Imperial Censor Gu Dingming sat in the main seat, his gray brows furrowed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the rosewood table.
Seven or eight trusted imperial censors sat below, all holding their breath in concentration. The atmosphere was as oppressive as the dead silence before a storm.
"Do you all understand what I mean?"
Gu Dingming's voice was low and slow, carrying undeniable pressure. "Zhao Muyun is arrogant because of his achievements. He has become too powerful to be controlled in Shuoyin."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is concerned about state affairs, fearing that border generals will become too powerful and threaten the foundation of the nation."
"As censors, it is our duty to expose wrongdoing and rectify the government."
"I've gathered you all today to discuss how to remove this eyesore."
After a brief silence, a slightly plump imperial censor spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of urgency:
"Master Gu, I believe that possessing an army of your own is a ready-made crime!"
"Zhao Muyun, under the guise of resettling refugees, recruited soldiers on a massive scale. He plundered almost all the refugees from Xiazhou and Linzhou, filling their ranks with the Suppressing the Enemy Commandant's Office."
"Someone has even reported that the source of their military funds is unclear. They are suspected of colluding with the Bai family business, using the huge profits from illegal salt contraband to support their own army!"
"This is a major taboo for the imperial court. Using this as evidence will surely cause a stir in the court and the country!"
Gu Dingming raised his eyelids slightly and said nothing.
The charge of having his own troops is serious enough, but it is a bit vague, and the chain of evidence needs to be carefully woven.
Another tall and thin censor interjected, "I think 'officials and businessmen collude to monopolize financial resources' is more specific and easier to verify."
"The four states of Yan, Yin, Shuo, and Wei are related to the profits of salt, iron, and horses. Now they are almost in the hands of the Bai family and Zhao Muyun. Other merchants are unable to move forward and are full of complaints."
"We just need to find a few victims, collect some accounting documents, and prove that he abused his power to protect the Bai family and squeeze out and suppress other merchants. That would be solid evidence of his crime!"
"Although this crime is not as shocking as possessing an army, it is more solid and can better prove his greed and arrogance."
Everyone in the hall was whispering to each other, and it was obvious that both plans had their supporters.
Gu Dingming's gaze slowly swept across and finally landed on Song Liu who was sitting in the corner.
Just when Zhao Muyun was promoted to captain on the recommendation of Pei Lun, the governor of Hedong, and led his troops to relieve the siege of Weizhou, Song Liu was ordered to investigate why Zhao Muyun was holding his troops at Feihu Ridge.
The person who knows Zhao Muyun best in the Censorate is none other than Song Liu.
"Imperial Censor Song, what do you think?" Gu Dingming asked by name.
Song Liu stood up, his demeanor calm, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Master Gu, colleagues, I think that both 'holding the army to gain power' and 'collusion between officials and businessmen' are too slow!"
"What kind of person is Zhao Muyun? Cunning as a fox, fierce as a tiger! He already has a stronghold in the seven prefectures of Shuozhou, and is even more entangled in the unclear marriage with the Prince of Jin's Palace."
"If we impeach him on ordinary charges, he'll have time to maneuver and defend himself, perhaps offering excuses or evasions. He might even turn around and accuse us of framing the border general! By then, we'll not only fail to kill the snake, but end up suffering from it!"
He paused, his voice suddenly rising, carrying a bewitching force: "If you want to move, you must strike at their very core! If you want to strike, you must strike at their weakest point! I propose that you impeach me directly for 'treason'!"
"Treason?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked, and even Gu Dingming's fingers tapping on the table stopped.
"Censor Song! Be careful with your words! Treason is the most serious of the ten evils and is a serious offense! Without irrefutable evidence..."
Someone immediately spoke out in opposition.
Song Liu did not flinch and said firmly: "Ironclad evidence? Transfer him from Shuozhou to the capital, and there will be ironclad evidence!"
"The key lies in the word 'transfer'! With just one imperial decree, he will be ordered to return to the capital immediately to report on his duties, surrender his military power, and be investigated by the Dali Temple first!"
"He's in the capital, and his minions are thousands of miles away. He's like a tiger leaving the mountain, or a dragon losing its water!"
"By then, whether his actions in Shuozhou were a display of military might, collusion between officials and businessmen, or something even worse...wouldn't it be possible to find out?"
"As long as we can remove him from the army and trap him in the capital, it will be our greatest victory!"
"As for what we can find out later... we'll talk about it later! The most urgent task is to cut off their claws and fangs and destroy their wings!"
He glanced around, his voice tinged with cold temptation: "This is the strategy of removing the firewood from under the cauldron! Only in this way can we completely eliminate the great worry that has been troubling him, and only in this way can we demonstrate the determination of our Censorate to cleanse the world!"
A gleam of light flashed in Gu Dingming's eyes.
Song Liu's words were like a sharp awl, piercing the hesitation in his heart.
Yes, the charges can be made up later.
The key is to get the person back first!
As long as Zhao Muyun left his old nest in Shuozhou and the tens of thousands of border troops at his disposal, he would be a fish on the chopping board!
Wasn't the prince's message from Wei Qian to be quick and ruthless, and not give Zhao Muyun any chance to breathe?
He slowly stood up, and an invisible pressure enveloped the entire place:
"I really agree with what Censor Song said! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"
"Although the crime of treason is serious, it can directly hit the vital points and deter the scoundrels! I will lead the court tomorrow, and you..."
He glanced at several of his confidants, including Song Liu. "Select four of you and submit a petition with me! Five of you, jointly impeach Zhao Muyun, the Suppressing Enemy Captain, under the pretext of 'suspected treason and requesting transfer to the capital for investigation!'"
"I will obey your command!"
Everyone in the hall responded in unison, each with their own thoughts.
A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed across Song Liu's lowered eyes.
......
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