Chapter 83: Suspicion Arises Even Over Jiang Ning and Chen Liangyu…
Incense was lit inside Chongzheng Hall; it was ambergris.
Zhao Xingli, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, dressed in a scarlet robe, knelt in the center of the main hall, his face ashen. Beside him knelt another man, Qiu Renshan, who had been working tirelessly for the country's grain tax, and whose return to Yongdu was unknown.
Xie Yuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne. Beneath the crown, his complexion was not good. His thin lips were paler than they had been, his beard was stubble, and his brows were furrowed.
Inside the hall, two groups of people knelt, wailing and arguing their grievances. Judging from the embroidery on their official robes, they were officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. The two leading figures were none other than Su Chasang, the Minister of Revenue, and Tang Shiqiong, the Minister of Works.
It is obvious that before Chen Liangyu entered the palace to meet the emperor, the group of people in Chongzheng Hall had already been through a round of torture.
Xun Xian had already arrived, and Xie Yuan had given him a long chair. He was reclining on it, rubbing his forehead, looking as if he were about to die at any moment. Chen Liangyu entered the hall to pay his respects to the Emperor, thinking to himself, "This pretense of illness is never going to end."
In the blink of an eye, she caught sight of that beautiful figure.
Xie Wenjun was sitting on a wooden chair carved with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts under the dragon throne.
Xie Yuan slightly raised his hand and told her to stand up, "Rise, don't kneel." The number of people kneeling in this entire hall was already enough to make him feel extremely uneasy.
Behind Chen Liangyu, his feet unconsciously moved to the other side of the main hall.
Xie Yuan lowered his eyebrows instantly, a hint of doubt and unease flashing in his eyes.
Chen Liangyu did not walk to Xie Wenjun's side.
She stood some distance from Xie Wenjun, bowed to her from afar, and said, "Greetings, Princess." She only raised her eyes briefly before turning her gaze elsewhere.
Xie Wenjun stroked the armrest as if playing with it, but her demeanor was upright. She nodded slightly to Chen Liangyu.
Xie Yuan saw all of this, and his brows furrowed even more tightly.
In that barely perceptible instant, it seemed that the unwritten agreement between him and Chen Liangyu, which he had always firmly believed in, was torn apart invisibly.
Is there really something in Chen Liangyu's heart that is more important than the relationship between ruler and subject?
Xie Yuan has not visited the Nanyuan Palace to attend to state affairs for a long time. In the few years since he ascended the throne, he has had Xie Wenjun to assist him in managing agriculture and sericulture, Xun Xian to win over and suppress civil officials, and loyal military generals such as Chen Liangyu, Heng Miao, and Feng Jiakun to defend against enemies abroad and quell rebellions at home.
After the Gu family was exonerated, Gu Heng defied his grandfather Gu Changxue's family rule that "one should not enter officialdom" and was appointed a Hanlin Academician to assist in government affairs. From then on, officials of the Hanhong Party were also brought into his own hands.
Loyal ministers and capable generals gathered under his command.
His aim was to emulate the wise rulers of past dynasties, hoping that under his rule, Da Lin would usher in a prosperous and enlightened era.
But today, a deep unease suddenly arose in his heart.
Xie Yuan pressed his temples. The longer he stood atop the deserted peak, the more unavoidable and uncontrollable his suspicions became.
He even began to have doubts about Jiang Ning and Chen Liangyu.
Zheng Hechuan, who was serving nearby, thought the Emperor was unwell. He flicked his whisk and was about to shout something when Xie Yuan raised his hand to stop him. With a slight movement of his finger, Zheng Hechuan fell silent, simply taking the teacup from the imperial table and, a moment later, bringing up a cup of hot tea.
Inside the hall, the sounds of kowtowing and pleading for justice continued to rise and fall, without ever ceasing.
Xie Yuan looked at Chen Liangyu across the main hall, and that glance was full of profound meaning.
Chen Liangyu immediately understood.
The situation involved the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, two major government agencies.
First, regarding the Ministry of Works' reconstruction project at Yanzhi Mountain, Zhao Xingli repeatedly gathered evidence and discovered that when Tang Shiqiong, the Minister of Works, was building the Yanzhi Mountain Palace, he privately employed craftsmen and sold labor exemptions, forcibly conscripting many craftsmen and laborers to build the palace. In addition, he used this as an opportunity to amass wealth by collecting "exemption fees," which meant that by paying a certain amount of silver, one could be exempted from labor service.
The practice of buying official titles to exempt oneself from corvée labor was a legacy of the Xuanyuan era. At that time, in order to replenish the national treasury and address the shortage of military funds, the government allowed people to "donate" official positions and pay silver to be exempt from corvée labor. However, this expedient measure was not a long-term solution. The sale of official titles was explicitly prohibited after Xie Yuan ascended the throne. Tang Shiqiong was not trying to test the emperor's power by snatching a tooth from a tiger's mouth; he was only forced to resort to theft because the emperor was in a hurry to build the Yanzhi Mountain Palace.
Tang Shiqiong cried the loudest, truly believing from the bottom of her heart that she had been wronged. She had done her best to serve the emperor, so how could she be accused of a crime that would cost her her head?
Secondly, Qiu Renshan investigated the grain tax and, through his connections, uncovered that Su Chasang, the Minister of Revenue, had embezzled grain taxes. When collecting local grain taxes, Su Chasang openly altered tax records and extorted "fire loss" (a tax surcharge), resulting in many commoners being charged grain taxes a second time.
Su Chasang and Tang Shiqiong were brought to Chongzheng Hall for questioning because the extra tax collected by the Ministry of Revenue was used to cover the shortfall in the Ministry of Works' construction of the imperial palace.
Su and Tang were truly suffering in silence, unable to express their bitterness. They knew perfectly well that the matters concerning the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works could not be attributed to the Emperor. If they claimed that the sale of corvée labor and the extortion of the people's wealth were for the purpose of building the Emperor's palace, then the Emperor would be seen as an unrighteous ruler who was exploiting his people.
However, the two of them were indeed doing their best to fulfill the emperor's duties, and had no choice but to keep crying out for their injustice.
Xie Yuan was naturally furious. However, in his anger, he also understood that these two men had their own difficulties, so he did not want to actually sentence either of them to death. The evidence was conclusive, and even as the ruler, he could not protect anyone. After weighing the options, Xie Yuan ordered the Imperial Secretary to hastily draft an edict announcing their crimes, ordering Tang Shiqiong and Su Chasang to be penalized and suspended from court to reflect on their actions; to release the privately employed artisans and laborers so that the common people could return to their hometowns and live in peace; and to return the excess taxes collected by the Ministry of Revenue to the people.
Qiu Renshan had been in and out of officialdom for many years, so he was not surprised by such a view from the emperor. He glanced at Xie Wenjun and saw Xie Wenjun slowly shake her head, so he said no more.
Zhao Xingli, however, was stubborn and did not hesitate to defy the emperor. He cited the laws of Dalin and drew up a number of points, insisting that the emperor dismiss the two men from their posts and punish them.
Xie Yuan's face was as gloomy as an inky cloud.
That figure in crimson robes remained consistently oblivious to the need for advancement or retreat.
Su Chasang aside, Tang Shiqiong was a trusted old minister whom Xie Yuan had used when he was in the Linxia fiefdom. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was a close minister of the emperor. Zhao Xingli's shouts for war and killing were nothing short of disrespect for the emperor.
Considering that Zhao Xingli's remonstrance was indeed within the duty of an imperial censor, Xie Yuan did not punish him. However, he was annoyed that Zhao Xingli was blind and lacked any discernment, so he simply ignored him and looked at Chen Liangyu.
Chen Liangyu immediately reported, "Your Majesty, after the Wanhe Festival, the King of Nanzhou will be setting off to return to Nanzhou."
"What good ideas do you all have?"
Chen Liangyu said, “Liang Qiuting is accompanied by a commoner strategist named Liu Mo. This man has been by the king's side ever since I went to Nanzhou to quell the rebellion, but two days ago he abandoned Liang Qiuting and left alone, accompanied by an envoy from Dongyin disguised as a man.” She bowed and nodded, “Our vassal state of Nanzhou has colluded with Dongyin, intending to invade our Great Lin. To protect the people and the nation, I beg Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict summoning the King of Nanzhou to the palace to capture Liu Mo and the Dongyin envoy Meng Yuanliang.”
Subordinate states with low status and weak national power share a common military characteristic: when faced with danger, they are unable to resist and can only seek assistance from larger powers, that is, open their doors and allow foreign troops to be stationed on their territory. While this may temporarily alleviate their predicament, it often marks the beginning of a nation's loss of sovereignty.
In the past, Nanzhou relied on Dalin, but now that the Emperor wants to reclaim the land, the King of Nanzhou has no choice but to seek help from outside again. Dongyin has also long coveted this prosperous land of Nanzhou, so they reached an agreement without prior consultation.
Chen Liangyu continued, "I urge Your Majesty to immediately send a decree to Lord Heng, instructing him to keep a close watch and ensure that Liu Mo and Meng Yuanliang do not return to the Southern Continent."
The Marquis Heng mentioned by Chen Liangyu is Marquis Zhongxin Hengmiao.
When King Qi usurped the throne, Heng Zhao, the eldest son of the Heng family, was in Yongdu. After the Heng family sent troops, King Qi dragged Heng Zhao to the front lines and slit his throat as a sacrifice to the flag. Heng Jinan was also imprisoned. Now, the ruler of the southern border is Heng Miao, the eldest son of the Heng family, who was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongxin.
"If we can capture Meng Yuanliang before Liu Mo and Meng Yuanliang return to Nanzhou, we can first surround Nanzhou with heavy troops and guard the sea and land borders. Crown Prince Chu Zhang is still in our dynasty, and Dongyin is afraid of harming us and dares not openly oppose our dynasty. Once Meng Yuanliang is captured, Dongyin will no longer be able to deny it, and it will be difficult for Nanzhou to ask Dongyin for help again."
Xie Yuan said, "What about Liu Mo? This man is not simple."
Chen Liangyu said, "I am but a scholar, nothing to worry about."
"Hmph," Xie Yuan snorted angrily, glancing at Zhao Xingli, who was still kneeling beneath the dragon throne, his posture as upright as iron. "A mere scholar, yet scholars are quite capable!"
Zhao Xingli's body stiffened.
Chen Liangyu veered the conversation around the matter of reclaiming Nanzhou, implying that if Zhao Xingli were a pragmatic person, he would know that the Emperor had already dealt with the private employment of artisans and the falsification of tax records, and should stop pursuing Su Chasang and Tang Shiqiong. Continuing to dwell on it would only anger the Emperor. But this man was stubborn, gritting his teeth and standing firm even before the Emperor, who held the power of life and death over him.
Zhao Xingli, holding his imperial tablet, said, "Your Majesty is the sovereign and father. How can you disregard the livelihood of the people for the sake of building palaces? How can you be biased and protect your own?"
"presumptuous!"
Xie Yuan pinched his thumb on his index finger joint, his nail turning white.
"If you dare to seek death, I will not dare to punish you!" He had already decided to kill him.
"I only wish to die."
Zhao Xingli removed his official hat, held it up with both hands, and placed it on the ground. "Your humble servant accepts the death penalty, but I only beg for a peaceful and prosperous world! I only beg for a wise and enlightened ruler to treat his people like his own children!"
Xie Yuan scoffed and said, "I'll grant your wish! Guards!"
In an instant, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Jiang Andong, led his troops into the palace as summoned. Two Imperial Guards stepped forward from behind him and lifted Zhao Xingli up from the left and right.
"Royal brother."
"His Majesty!"
Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun spoke at the same time, intending to plead for Zhao Xingli's life, but also to advise him against it. The two were of one mind, and almost instantly, they both realized one thing: Zhao Xingli must not be killed.
The censors are responsible for supervising all officials and advising the emperor. The two major cases—the Minister of Works Tang Shiqiong's unauthorized employment of artisans and the Minister of Revenue Su Chasang's embezzlement of taxes—both have witnesses and physical evidence; Zhao Xingli's accusations are not mere fabrications to smear them. Killing one of them is one thing, but what will become of the 130 censors of the Censorate after Zhao Xingli's execution?
"Iron-Faced Zhao" had offended so many colleagues in the court, including many officials of higher rank; how many wanted him dead? He survived not only because the Censor-in-Chief valued his talent and protected him, but also because there were still many loyal and upright people in the court, like "a lone boat chasing the moon's shadow in the dark night." Killing him would be tantamount to announcing to the world that all loyal officials and the Censorate should abandon their principles and become treacherous, sycophantic ministers.
Xie Yuan was so angry that he lost his mind. After calming down, he realized that he had almost made a grave mistake by killing a minister who advised him. He had originally wanted to become a ruler who would restore the dynasty, but he almost became a foolish ruler who was condemned by his civil officials for his entire life.
The emperor's order is already on the tip of my tongue.
Zhao Xingli offended the emperor and had to be punished.
Xie Yuan pondered for a moment, and after careful consideration, swallowed the angry words of "escort him to the Meridian Gate for execution" that he had not yet uttered, and said: "Zhao Xingli, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, is to be taken to the Imperial Prison." After the man was escorted away, Xie Yuan said: "Summon the King of Nanzhou to an audience."
Author's note: This chapter is not finished. I will finish writing it tonight. [Completed]
I am Qin Shi Huang, currently writing a novel on my Nokia phone. Please water me with nutrient solution and help me accumulate enough points to revive the Terracotta Army. When I rise to the top again, I will share the world with you!
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