"You are now a second-rank general, and you have made great contributions in this battle. I can't wait to reward you, so how can I bear to punish you?" Emperor Mingcheng said with a smile. "Binzhi, your army is still short of a deputy general. Why not let General Cheng fill the position? What do you think, my dear minister?"
All soldiers in the world belong to the emperor, but if you want people to be loyal, you always have to promise them some benefits and power so that people know who is the master of the world now.
When Emperor Mingcheng said this, the Grand Marshal's face changed slightly, but he quickly changed his expression and said, "Your Majesty values General Cheng, which is his blessing. General Cheng, why don't you thank Your Majesty for your grace?"
Cheng Ze Rui stood up and knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your grace."
"Get up," Emperor Mingcheng was in a very good mood. He looked at the Grand Marshal and said, "Binzhi, don't think I only remember the achievements of the young generals. You are the one who deserves the most credit for this victory. Zhao Binzhi, obey my orders."
The Northwest Grand Marshal's name was Zhao Binzhi. Upon hearing this, he stood up, walked to the center of the hall, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Zhao Binzhi accepts the order."
"Marshal Zhao Binzhi deserves the primary credit for the great victory in the Northwest War. You have protected the territory and the people. I cannot disappoint the soldiers. From today on, I will confer the title of First-Class Duke on Zhao Binzhi and grant him the title..." Emperor Ming Cheng was just getting excited when he was interrupted by Cheng Ze Rui who had just stood up.
"Your Majesty, wait a minute!" Cheng Ze Rui knelt down again and said.
Emperor Mingcheng had just rewarded him and didn't want to reprimand him, but his words were already filled with displeasure: "Even if you have something important to report, you should wait until I finish speaking. It is not my duty to interrupt you rashly."
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. General Cheng, why don't you ask for punishment yourself?" Zhao Binzhi scolded.
Xiao Tang was sitting in his seat and had not looked here at first, but when he heard this, his mind became alert.
"Your Majesty, what I'm talking about is exactly related to your Majesty's reward this time. It's a matter of great importance and cannot be ignored." Cheng Ze Rui clasped his fists and said, "In the final battle of this Northwest War, Commander Zhao Binzhi was stubborn and self-willed, indulging in pleasure and ignoring advice. This led to a night attack on the Northwest camp, nearly wiping out the entire army. Even if they managed to break out, they would have suffered tens of thousands of casualties. I believe such a person is unworthy of your Majesty's reward..."
"General Cheng, have I ever offended you in any way that you are so slanderous?" Zhao Bingzhi said sternly. "Since I am guilty, tell me how we won this battle."
"Since the commander is not virtuous, I have no choice but to imprison him in the military prison and fight to the death. Only then can we achieve this great victory." Cheng Ze Rui's words were loud and clear.
"General Cheng, it's as if you're saying that the great victory in the Northwest was all General Cheng's credit, and that everyone else, including me, is useless," Zhao Bingzhi snorted coldly. "If General Cheng wants to take credit, he should ask the other generals for permission."
He looked towards where the generals were gathered. One general said, "General Cheng is indeed suspected of stealing the credit. The one who was distracted by military affairs was General Tu Hong. Wasn't he already beheaded by General Cheng on the battlefield?"
"You..." Cheng Ze Rui looked at him with an incredible look on his face, obviously not expecting him to say that.
Xiao Tang lowered his eyes slightly when he saw this. Although this person's aura was somewhat similar to Lin Su's, if it were that person, he would never let Zhao Binzhi return to the capital alive. The person who neglected his duty harmed the lives of thousands of soldiers and deserved to be put to death. If it were Lin Su, he would not let the person he brought to the palace be bitten back in this palace.
This man is loyal, brave and upright, but he lacks some wisdom and composure compared to Lin Su. It's not that this is a bad thing. After all, there is only one person like Lin Su in the world. If everyone is like him, I'm afraid the world will be torn apart and everyone can be the master.
"General Cheng, you claim that my Northwest Grand Marshal committed dereliction of duty. Do you have any evidence?" Emperor Mingcheng said, "If this is just a false accusation, I will punish you."
Cheng Ze Rui bowed and said, "I have evidence. It's a blood letter Tu Hong gave me before his death. He is also guilty of dereliction of duty, but he was pushed out as a scapegoat.
He took the cloth out of his arms, and Emperor Ming Cheng looked at the eunuch. The eunuch hurried down and held up the item, presenting it to Emperor Ming Cheng.
The originally bright red color had now turned somewhat black, but the bloody smell remained undiminished. Emperor Ming Cheng looked at the contents on it, then scrutinized Zhao Binzhi, who seemed rather trembling, and said, "Marshal Zhao, what is your explanation for this matter?"
"Your Majesty, it's just a blood oath. Anyone could forge it. General Cheng wanted to execute Tu Hong, so why would Tu Hong give him the blood oath? Since he could determine that I was guilty, why didn't he execute me?" Zhao Bingzhi said, "Your Majesty, this is a frame-up."
"Your Majesty, I feel..." Xiao Jin received instructions from the empress dowager and wanted to win over Zhao Binzhi. Just as he was about to speak, his voice was interrupted.
"Your Majesty, I think what the Northwest Grand Marshal says makes sense." Xiao Tang stood up and bowed. "As General Cheng said, the situation in the Northwest is fraught with danger. The generals have shared life and death with General Cheng. Why haven't they spoken up for the general in this hall? On the contrary, the Grand Marshal is quite popular. The blood letter can indeed be forged. Please investigate this matter."
Xiao Jin was interrupted by him, and he had a lot of words in his heart, but he could only glare at Xiao Tang secretly, and said with a bow, "Father, I think so too. No matter what, it is disloyal for a subordinate to sue his superior."
Cheng Ze Rui knelt on the spot and listened to the conversation between the two, his heart sinking slightly. He was far away at the border and only knew that the situation in the capital was fierce among the princes fighting for the throne. However, he did not know that with just a few words, the originally solid evidence could become forged.
It was fine for him, but how heartbroken the soldiers who died at the border must have been. The people they risked their lives to protect were sitting in such a comfortable and bright hall, wearing silk and satin, enjoying fine wine and delicacies, and were all treated like gold and jade. How could they have known that when the soldiers had no salt to eat at the border, a piece of salt cloth could be boiled over and over again.
A general dying in battle is honor, but dying in a place like this is a disgrace. Cheng Ze Rui hated himself for being so tongue-tied, but now he didn't know how to refute. He could only kneel and say, "Your Majesty, I dare to guarantee with my own head that what I said is not a lie. Please understand!"
Emperor Ming Chengdi originally believed what Zhao Binzhi said. Even if he didn't believe it, the war in the northwest had already been won, and the credit of the soldiers and generals was naturally also the credit of the marshal. But all this happened before Xiao Tang spoke.
The prince already has the support of the southwest and several ministers in the court, which makes the emperor very wary of him, but he just can't find any handle on him. It is the first time he knows that his eldest son can do things so smoothly and let him have no control over it.
If he could gain the support of the northwest at this time, his throne would probably be replaced by someone else.
"What Tang'er said makes sense, but General Cheng has evidence in his hands. I think we should investigate this matter thoroughly to avoid framing anyone and causing me to lose a great general." Emperor Ming Cheng changed his tone.
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