Wei Zhong, not wanting to listen to his continued rambling, quickly went up to the city wall to report the situation.
The Emperor didn't care at all; it was fine if he didn't report it. At least that person had some self-awareness.
If things really escalate, he's courting death.
He couldn't let his son lose face over such a trivial matter; if his son lost the people's support, how could he inherit the throne in the future?
Therefore, after that person made a big fuss, he only had one way out: death.
Chu Zhongyuan stood aside, and upon learning that Su Qingyu had left, a contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his lips.
Presumably, Lu Ziqian hid Su Qingyu because he realized the plan had failed and feared retaliation.
However, even if he hides it, it will still be useful. He missed today, and he will never have the chance to appeal to the emperor again.
He would also send people to guard the Dengwen Drum area, and if anyone beat the drum, they would be arrested on the spot, thus walking into a trap.
Ha, that guy surnamed Lu is still too naive.
Anyone who dares to oppose him will have their most precious possession taken away from them.
The man's gaze involuntarily turned towards the east of the city, where there lay an unparalleled 'treasure'.
Suddenly, the Imperial Guards rode up to the city gate and reported that a triumphant army had appeared ten miles ahead.
The exciting moment has finally arrived, with flags waving, shouts of joy, and cheers from the crowd.
Those on the city wall were the first to see the long procession of the triumphant army, for they had a better view from their vantage point.
Soon, even the people who were welcoming them from below the city gate saw the magnificent procession.
Just as the triumphant army was about to reach the city gate, a group of ragged, disheveled civilians suddenly rushed out.
This sudden turn of events startled the entire Imperial Guard, but the people stopped advancing and instead knelt down and kowtowed, begging for justice.
The Emperor frowned slightly. What's going on down there? Why are there so many troubles today?
He glanced at Chu Zhongyuan subconsciously and saw that he had his brows furrowed. His heart skipped a beat. Was it related to this bastard again?
Could he have stolen these people's daughters?
He's a prince, he could have any woman he wanted, so why does he prefer this despicable act of taking other men's wives and forcibly abducting women?
Wang Liyang, standing next to Chu Zhongyuan, was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. His intuition told him that these people were related to the military rations.
"I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for this humble subject, and I beg Your Majesty to punish the corrupt officials."
"We beg Your Majesty to punish these corrupt officials!"
"We beg Your Majesty to do justice for the innocent people."
"We beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for all the soldiers."
These people are all elderly people who have lost their sons and have no other relatives.
They were all alone, unafraid of implicating their children and grandchildren, and were willing to die for the sake of seeking justice for their deceased son.
Therefore, they shouted loudly, with all their might, their anger overflowing, drowning out the high-pitched cries and deafening drumbeats.
When the emperor heard the term "corrupt official," he had to take it seriously, for he hated corrupt officials more than anything in his life.
Moreover, this matter has been made public. If he does nothing about it, how will the people view him?
Who would support an emperor who refuses to stand up for the people?
"Wei Zhong, go down and find out what happened?"
"yes."
Wei Zhong jogged over, feeling that this was the same matter the young man who had just been drumming was suing about.
"Please, Your Excellency, do justice for this humble subject!"
“My son is a soldier. If he dies on the battlefield, I will accept it. It is a sacrifice for the country, a dedication, and an honor.”
"But the commoner's son died from these moldy, rotten rice."
"This is a letter sent back by my son, with a few grains of military rations tucked inside."
"Sir, look at this. Soldiers fight for the country, but they are eating this kind of food."
“My son died such a pathetic death… My son was only sixteen years old… Waaah…” The old man cried as he spoke, looking utterly pitiful, and the surrounding people also shed tears.
Wei Zhong looked at the moldy green rice in the old man's hand and frowned. This rice was moldy far too much. Even the burial grain dug up from the ground decades ago didn't have this much mold.
Seeing this, others also handed over their letters.
"My lord, this is a petition written by someone on my behalf. Please deliver it to the Emperor and do justice for me."
“If even the emperor is unwilling to stand up for the people, then we common folk really have no way to survive.”
"We beg Your Majesty to make the decision."
"We beg Your Majesty to make the decision."
A group of old men and women kowtowed frantically, their foreheads touching the hard, rough bluestone slabs of the official road, and they bled after only a few strokes.
Wei Zhong felt sorry for them and said, "Old folks, please stop kowtowing. His Majesty will surely stand up for you."
"You must stay alive to see how the Emperor punishes corrupt officials."
After Wei Zhong finished speaking, he hurriedly took the letters and petitions and went up to the city wall tower.
When Chenzhou saw that there were people ahead petitioning the emperor, he deliberately quickened his pace to reach the city gate.
Eighty percent of the soldiers behind him had been poisoned by moldy military rations. Since he couldn't make decisions for them, he let them make their own decisions.
They might not dare to speak alone, but now that someone has taken the lead, as long as one person in the army steps forward, the others will follow suit.
When the time comes, the law will not punish the masses, and the emperor will surely seek justice for them.
Sure enough, one of the soldiers saw that someone was standing up for them, and that he recognized one of the old men.
He and Wang Daniu were from the same village. They grew up together and were as close as brothers. Later, they were both conscripted into the army.
They also thought of serving their country and fighting bravely against the enemy, but Wang Daniu died of illness after eating moldy rice before he even went to the battlefield.
Wang Daniu was Old Man Wang's youngest son, and also a premature baby who was weak from a young age.
Old Wang was supposed to be the one to be drafted this time. Although he was old, he happened to be the maximum age for conscription, so he was on the conscription list.
Wang Daniu joined the army in place of his father out of love for him, but ended up losing his life because of a bowl of moldy rice.
Now that the Wang family line has ended, Old Man Wang is determined to seek justice for his son, even at the cost of his own life.
He couldn't bear to see Old Man Wang all alone and helpless, so after a moment's hesitation, he stepped forward, knelt down with him, and shouted for justice.
Other soldiers who had suffered greatly also knelt down.
They were all men of courage and integrity; those who died were their brothers who had risked their lives for them.
If they don't speak up for their brothers who died unjustly now, no one will speak up for them when they are persecuted in the future.
The emperor stood on the high platform, looking at the fact that more than half of the soldiers and officers had knelt down, his face ashen.
Wang Liyang was already trembling with fear, but he was also glad that he had made plans for his children and grandchildren in advance.
Just then, his confidant appeared, wounded, and whispered something in his ear.
His confidant's words terrified him so much he could barely stand; the list was stolen, and his family members were detained.
Wang Liyang glanced at the Crown Prince, only to meet the Crown Prince's meaningful smile. The Crown Prince remained gentle and polite, yet Wang Liyang was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Did the other party... did they leave any message?"
"They said whether the young masters and ladies can escape alive depends on what you do!"
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