In other words, in the past, the Censorate and the Imperial Counselors could report things based on hearsay, using groundless rumors, or things like natural disasters and strange phenomena to impeach the prime minister.
If the emperor also happens to dislike the prime minister, he can use this excuse to dismiss the prime minister and replace him with someone else.
But now the Prime Minister of the Constitutional Council is no longer like this. The term of office is fixed at five years. Unless there is solid evidence that he has committed a crime, even if something happens to his son, it will probably not affect Lu Yijian and Sheng Du.
But Cheng Lin is different.
Cheng Lin himself was involved in the collusion with Feng Shiyuan, and was caught with criminal evidence that implicated him.
Therefore, during this period, apart from Lu Yijian and Sheng Du who opposed the new policy, he was also the biggest opponent.
Now, with these words from Zhao Jun, hasn't he been sentenced to death?
Cheng Lin immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask, is Zhao Jun the emperor, or is Your Majesty the emperor? Why can Zhao Jun's words determine the life or death of the prime minister? If this continues, where will Your Majesty's authority be?"
This is a heart-breaking statement.
In the past, Cheng Lin would never dare to say this, but since it involved his political career, he had no choice but to do so.
"Are you deaf?"
Zhao Jun looked at him indifferently and said, "Didn't you hear that His Majesty has already handed this matter over to this court? Your Majesty is certainly a wise emperor, but the Prime Minister also has the power to assist in government. Now that the emperor has granted this power and the imperial power has granted it, can't we punish you according to the law?"
Cheng Lin ignored him and continued to speak to Zhao Zhen, "Your Majesty should make your own decisions and be fair. You must not listen to the reckless words of treacherous people who make your ministers feel disheartened."
Lu Yijian opened his mouth and looked at Cheng Lin as if he was looking at a dead person.
Zhao Jun raised his head and looked at Zhao Zhen, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Cheng Lin said that I was a traitor. What is your Majesty's decision?"
"Cheng Lin has committed a crime, the evidence is conclusive, and he will be punished according to the law!"
Zhao Zhen said without hesitation: "Han Long is the head of the Political System Council and the prime minister of all officials. He serves the country and the people. I will never let Han Long down!"
"Then deal with it according to the law. Where is the Palace Front Office?"
Zhao Jun asked loudly.
"exist!"
Several guards stepped forward.
"Pull it away!"
Zhao Jun waved his hand and said, "First, lock him up in the Imperial City Prison. Let's investigate if he has any other cases. Damn it! As an official, instead of thinking about serving the people and helping the emperor, all he does is scheme, embezzle, and pervert the law. He deserves to be killed!"
As the grandfather and grandson echoed each other, Cheng Lin's face turned pale. All the officials were horrified. They had never expected that Zhao Zhen would give Zhao Jun such great power.
Although everyone knew that Zhao Zhen favored Zhao Jun, it was completely unexpected that he arbitrarily decided the life and death of a senior official who was only below the Political System Council and was also a candidate for the Political System Council, and whose rank was higher than that of a deputy prime minister, in the Chuigong Hall.
This also made everyone realize with horror that Zhao Jun's power was far greater than they had imagined. In the past, he didn't get angry because his interests hadn't been affected. Now, even if his interests weren't affected, once he got angry, it was as terrifying as a tiger descending from the mountain.
Li Zhang, the attendant of Tianzhang Pavilion, immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this must not happen. Zhao Jun is extremely powerful, and he has been acting like Cao and Mang, wantonly killing high-ranking officials. If this continues, the world will only know Zhao Jun, and not Your Majesty!"
"This person is also an accomplice."
Zhao Jun waved his hand again and said, "All officials involved in the case, regardless of their rank or position, should be punished for breaking the law. Where are the guards?"
"exist!"
"Pull it away!"
"yes."
The guards swarmed in like wolves and tigers and dragged the man away.
In fact, Zhao Jun directly ordered the guards to arrest people in the Chuigong Hall, which was obviously an overstepping of authority and a typical behavior of a powerful official.
But before the attack started, Zhao Zhen cooperated with him and asked the guards to follow Zhao Jun's instructions.
In this way, it would not be considered that Zhao Jun had exceeded the imperial authority and ordered the guards to arrest people, but that he was following the emperor's orders, which was a special authorization of the imperial power!
Different procedures will naturally lead to different results.
Otherwise, if there was no such procedure, the officials would be in a panic and the court would be in chaos again in an instant.
Soon, more than a dozen officials who had committed crimes, including Cheng Lin, Li Zhang and others, were all arrested and sent to the Imperial City Prison, awaiting interrogation and conviction.
The others were obviously distressed, and each of them was afraid of the fate of these people, so they dared not speak.
After all, the situation is completely different.
In the past, they could fool the emperor and win the party struggle.
But now the emperor only listens to Zhao Jun and has achieved procedural justice, so they have no reason to criticize him.
The referee, referee, witness, organizer and co-organizer are all his people. What can he use to fight against Zhao Jun?
"If you commit a crime, you should be arrested. Otherwise, the dignity of the country and the prestige of the court will be destroyed!"
Zhao Jun watched these people being dragged out wailing, and then he added insult to injury: "Pass on my order to expose their crimes to the public and publish them in the newspapers. Let the people see the court's determination to deal with these lawless officials!"
"Hanlong, why bother with this?"
Lu Yijian's face changed drastically, and so did the faces of many officials.
Officials care about their reputation. Newspapers have now become the biggest mouthpiece in Bianliang, radiating not only the city of Bianliang, but also the entire Jingji Road. Even foreign merchants who travel to Bianliang will take newspapers away and spread them as news anecdotes.
It can be said that if it were published in the newspaper, Cheng Lin and others would have their reputations ruined in an instant, and their descendants might also be implicated. In this way, their family and even the entire clan would be finished.
"I don't want to kill you, but you guys have really disappointed me."
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