Chapter 281: Kindness and Severity
The next day.
With Jiang Qian's help, Li Qing washed and dressed neatly.
Then he pinched Jiang Qian's pretty face and walked towards the Wanshou Hall with a smile.
Today, he is going to give the court a good cleanup!
The Grand Tutor returned yesterday, so he couldn't start a massacre.
So, by the way, we gave those spies and villains an extra day and night to think about it.
And today, if they still refuse to cut off their ties with the Western Zhou Dynasty.
And if you still think you don't know, then don't blame yourself for being heartless.
As he thought about it, Li Qing's expression gradually became indifferent.
"Long live His Majesty, long live His Majesty, long live His Majesty."
The Emperor held his morning court, and all officials knelt in worship.
However, today, there was an additional person in the court, namely, Grand Tutor Wen, who was wearing a large robe, was bestowed with the Nine Gifts and was the permanent teacher of the Emperor, as well as twenty-four generals.
So at first glance, the court seemed a lot more lively.
Li Qing simply said, "Stand up."
All officials stood up.
Li Qing glanced at the ministers and said slowly, "My lords, do you still remember what I said two days ago?"
As soon as Li Qing said this.
The expressions of all the ministers changed immediately.
There were even many people whose eyes showed fear.
Li Qing leaned on the throne, supporting his head with one hand, and looked down at the courtiers below, saying, "Western Zhou has evil ambitions and is plotting evil. I believe there is no need for me to mention this matter. Moreover, I made it clear that day that as long as you immediately sever ties with Western Zhou and wholeheartedly return to my Great Shang, I will forgive you for your past mistakes."
Having said this, Li Qing slowly sat up straight, looked at the courtiers below with an expressionless face and said: "But why do some of you not cherish this opportunity!?"
Li Qing's voice was like thunder, echoing throughout the court.
Wen Zhong, Bigan, Shang Rong, Shen Gongbao and others all looked calm, as if nothing had happened.
But some ministers' legs were trembling.
His Majesty was majestic and domineering, and his presence filled the Wanshou Hall. Although he was looking at the ministers, in their eyes, they only felt that the king was staring at them!
That kind of brutality and dominance would make even those with a clear conscience feel uneasy.
Li Qing exhaled, then waved his hand and said, "Now, I will give you one last chance. Come out and admit your mistakes. I will still forgive you, give you official titles, and let you bring honor to your hometown! Don't let me down again."
After saying this, Li Qing sat on the imperial throne with a calm expression, looking down at the court officials below.
For a moment, the air in the entire Wanshou Hall seemed to be completely cold and frozen!
Apart from the loyal ministers who were truly worthy of His Majesty and the Shang Dynasty, there were dozens of ministers whose eyes were rolling around, their lips were trembling, and their hands were opening and closing non-stop. They didn't know what to do!
How could the attitudes of these dozens of ministers escape Li Qing's eyes?
From what Li Qing saw, most of these dozens of people had cut off contact with Western Zhou yesterday, burned all the correspondence, and killed the Western Zhou spies in the mansion.
But there was still a small part that was aware that it had concealed itself very well and had not moved. But now, under his own majesty, it was also confused and panicked.
It took a short while.
But suddenly there was a wail.
"Your Majesty! I know I was wrong! I know I was wrong!!"
But then a middle-aged man crawled out from among the court officials, tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed and shouted at Li Qing.
Li Qing took a look.
It turned out to be Huang Ansheng, a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel.
Li Qing said calmly, "Oh? Huang Aiqing, what have you done wrong?"
"I could not resist the bewitching influence of the thieves of the Western Zhou Dynasty! I accepted their money and beauties! This year, I leaked a lot of information about the transfer of officials in the Ministry of Personnel! And helped them to place officials in positions of their own accord! All of this is my fault! I am guilty! Your Majesty! Please kill me! I only hope that Your Majesty will show mercy and spare my two sons and one daughter! I am guilty!!"
But Huang Ansheng was trembling all over, crying like a tearful man, his head was bruised, and he was roaring hoarsely.
Li Qing nodded gently, then glanced at the ministers and said calmly: "Except Huang Ansheng, are there no others?"
All the ministers lowered their heads when they were looked at by Li Qing, and some even had trembling legs.
"Your Majesty, I am also guilty..."
Sure enough, after a few breaths, an old man came out trembling, knelt down in front of Li Qing, and said, "Your Majesty, I am guilty..."
Li Qing took a look and saw that it was the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, Wu Ming.
Li Qing sighed and said, "Lord Wu, you are a high-ranking official of the second rank in the current dynasty. The monthly tribute you provide is enough to support tens of thousands of people. Your power is overwhelming, and ordinary immortals would bow down to you. But why are you like this? How could you be like this?"
Wu Ming's eyes welled with tears as he knelt and sobbed, "I, an old minister, have received great favors from the great kingdom. I was wholeheartedly committed to serving the country, but in a moment of thought, I fell into the hands of the thieves and was given a handle. Panic led me to commit further misdeeds, further aggravating my sins! From then on, I have been deeply trapped, unable to extricate myself, and have been driven to the mercy of the thieves. Your Majesty! Your Majesty, your death is not a pity! Your Majesty, your regrets are too late!"
Li Qing took a deep breath and sighed, then scanned the crowd with a sharp gaze and asked, "Are there any more?"
"Your Majesty, I am guilty too!"
"My lord, my lord, my lord..."
"I am guilty, I am guilty!..."
I saw several more ministers, with official positions ranging from the third to the fourth rank, all crawling out.
Some people were so panicked that they couldn't even speak fully and could only kowtow on the ground.
In a moment, eight people were kneeling on the ground.
Li Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the eight people kneeling below, and said again in a slow voice: "No more?"
At this moment, although a few people were trembling slightly, there was determination in their eyes and they did not leave the line.
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