Zhu Youxiao decided to get rid of him, express his attitude directly, and force Zhang Heming, the shameless guy, to get out.
"Since the public sentiment is so strong, summon Zhang Heming back to the capital. Dismiss the court." Zhu Youxiao stood up and left.
Ye Xianggao sighed in his heart and bowed with other ministers to see the emperor off.
Zhang Heming was still crawling towards Shanhaiguan like a turtle. Zhu Youxiao was already impatient and told him to get out of here immediately to avoid wasting the court's travel expenses.
Although I know that those censors are not good people, I can still make use of them and let them run around for a few days.
………………
When Ye Xianggao returned to his office, he spread out paper, picked up a pen, and began to write a memorial to retire and return home.
The emperor has made up his mind to depose Zhang Heming. The incident started with Wang Huazhen. As Wang Huazhen's teacher, he also favored Wang Huazhen in the "discord between the governor and the governor". Can he stay out of it?
This is almost a tradition among civil servants who consider themselves to be noble. If there is an impeachment involving themselves, they will most likely submit a petition to ask for resignation first.
Firstly, it was to test the emperor's attitude. If he expressed condolences and retained him, the impeachment would most likely be suppressed; secondly, it was to show that he was not clinging to power, had integrity, and was very noble.
However, Ye Xianggao had a premonition that the emperor would approve this memorial. Granting him some honor and a ride back home on the post station carriage would be considered a great favor from the emperor.
But Ye Xianggao did not hesitate much. Firstly, he was old. Secondly, it was not easy to be the prime minister. Finally, Wang Huazhen was also responsible for this.
While he was writing a memorial, there was a rather hurried knock on the door. Ye Xianggao frowned, put away the memorial, and asked someone to come in.
The person who came in was Zhao Nanxing, the Minister of Personnel. He frowned and looked very anxious. Before Ye Xianggao could speak, Zhao Nanxing said, "Sir, do you know that Li Sancai was arrested by the East Factory?"
Ye Xianggao was stunned for a moment and said, "Meng Bai, how did you know this? When did it happen? Is it true?"
Zhao Nanxing nodded vigorously and said, "He was escorted to the capital by the East Factory last night and is now imprisoned in the Pacification Office."
Ye Xianggao's mind raced, and he knew that this matter was no small matter.
If it was just the East Factory and the Imperial Guards handling the case, it wouldn't be a big deal, after all, they had the authority to do so. But if there was someone behind the scenes directing the case, who else but the emperor could have the power to mobilize the East Factory and the Imperial Guards?
After a pause, Ye Xianggao asked, "Do you know what the crime is?"
"I don't know that." Zhao Nanxing shook his head, sat down in his chair, and said in a deep voice, "I will submit a memorial to defend him."
Ye Xianggao glanced at Zhao Nanxing thoughtfully and said, "How can you defend yourself if you don't even know the charges? Mengbai, you'd better be patient and wait a while before you talk!"
"It's precisely because they arrested him and imprisoned him without even a single charge that I'm submitting this petition." Zhao Nanxing looked at Ye Xianggao curiously and said, "Lord Ye, is it appropriate for the Imperial Guards to arrest him instead of going through the Ministry of Justice?"
Ye Xianggao said, "The East Factory and the Pacification Office are authorized to investigate and spy, and they have the right to detect, arrest, and interrogate prisoners. What's wrong with Meng Bai's words? We don't even know why Li Sancai is in prison, so how can you defend him? Wait a moment, until the information is more reliable, and then make a decision."
Zhao Nanxing blinked, not convinced. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency is right. I'll think about it when I get home."
Ye Xianggao waited for Zhao Nanxing to reach the door, and then he couldn't help but remind him, "Meng Bai, you must not connect the dots, and you must not make extreme arguments."
Zhao Nanxing didn't know whether it was "hmm" or "hum", and walked out without looking back.
Ye Xianggao looked at Zhao Nanxing's back and shook his head helplessly, knowing that he was dissatisfied with him. Moreover, he had probably discussed this with other officials before coming here, and was just here to see his attitude.
Returning to the table, Ye Xianggao took out the petition, hesitated for a moment, sighed helplessly, and continued writing.
The emperor is silent, yet he's constantly making big moves. These officials are still dreaming, unaware of the impending catastrophe. How ridiculous, pitiful, and hateful!
Ye Xianggao paused for a moment, his mind wandering, and the ink from his pen dripped onto the paper. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, crumpling the memorial into a ball and starting over with a new sheet of paper.
………………
Smoke and dust covered the sky, artillery fire roared, and shouts of killing shook the sky. The fighting had reached a fever pitch.
The Later Jin army marched out of the camp at daybreak, and after a brief adjustment, they began to attack Guangning City fiercely.
Xiong Tingbi sent out his generals to defend the city in sections and put up a fierce resistance, while he himself stayed in the east city, facing Nurhaci's banner and personally commanded the battle.
At this point, everyone knew that it was a matter of fighting to the death, and all conspiracies and tricks were useless.
Taking advantage of the fact that the frozen "plum blossom piles" arranged under the city were not destroyed by the Jiannu, according to the plan, the new recruits took turns to go up to the city to resist the battle. The battle at this time was not fierce, so it was an opportunity for them to gain some experience and exercise.
Of course, the new recruits only have a short time to fight in the city, and most of the defense is still undertaken by the veterans.
Even so, casualties among recruits are inevitable.
The Jiannu's arrows rained down like rain, so dense that the hanging signs on the city walls had become like spears, and from time to time, the defenders were shot because of their loose defenses.
But the Jiannu were not having an easy time either. The falconets and tiger squat cannons on the city kept firing at them. Hundreds of lead bullets and the occasional lead balls also caused casualties to them.
Both sides played to their strengths. The Jiannu had excellent archery skills and the Ming army had strong artillery. They engaged in a long-range contest by shooting at each other within their respective killing ranges.
Under the cover of bows and arrows, the Jiannu pushed shield carts close to the city wall, ramming them with carts and chopping them with axes, clearing away the disgusting obstacles.
The battle seemed fierce, but it was actually the preparation before the actual siege. Once the obstacles under the city wall were cleared, the watchtowers, towers, and even ladders would rush in and violently attack the city.
When the drums and trumpets sounded, the exhausted Jiannu archers retreated, and another group rushed up to replace them, drawing their bows and shooting.
Whoosh! An arrow shot from the top of the city wall, as fast as a meteor, hitting a Jiannu officer in the face. He screamed and fell backwards.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several arrows were shot in succession, and every arrow hit its target, knocking down several Jiannu.
"Shields, raise them!" the Jiannu officer shouted loudly, knowing that it was the Ming army's sharpshooter who was sniping.
There was no way around it. The Ming army's sharpshooters were in a commanding position and could hide behind the battlements and shoot through the firing holes.
It was obviously too difficult for the Jiannu archers under the city to shoot arrows through the shooting holes and hit the Ming army behind them.
How much strength and bow would be needed to shoot straight? This requires considering the parabola principle and the oblique projection formula—it's too damn difficult!
Hehehe, Ma Chengfei on the city wall grinned, revealing his two big front teeth, and raised an eyebrow at Ma Wu behind the battlement next to him, "Alright, brother, although it's still a little short of what I can do."
Ma Wu rolled his eyes, drew his bow and arrow without saying a word, moved away, and shot an arrow through the shooting hole.
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