After Cao Mengde finished speaking, Chu Fan rarely made a joke. He smiled and said:
"Lord Cao, you can't leave this world so easily now. If you pass away now, I will be accused by the world of being unsympathetic to an old minister. Some people may even say that I caused Lord Cao to die from overwork."
There was a hint of joking in Chu Fan's words, but at the same time, they also revealed his concern and respect for Cao Mengde.
After hearing Chu Fan's half-joking, half-serious words, the tense atmosphere in the court finally eased a little. The ministers also showed rare smiles on their faces.
Cao Mengde looked at Chu Fan, a glimmer of relief flashing in his eyes.
He replied calmly, "I have lived longer than a tortoise. How could I possibly die so easily? Your Majesty, please rest assured and assign me the task."
The old minister will let the ministers in the court witness with their own eyes what it means to be strong even in old age and what it means to have an indomitable spirit."
Cao Mengde's words were full of firmness and confidence, as if telling everyone that despite the passage of time, he was still able to shoulder heavy responsibilities and contribute his strength to the country and the people.
When Chu Fan heard Cao Mengde's words, he couldn't help but smile and thought to himself: If Cao Mengde on Blue Star could live as long as you, perhaps the Sima family would not have usurped the throne.
He was full of admiration for the longevity and ability of Cao Mengde in this world, but at the same time he felt a little helpless about the history that happened on Blue Star.
At the same time, the other ministers in the court were also silently complaining in their hearts. Although they recognized Cao Mengde's ability, they also felt that Cao Mengde did not need to show off in front of the younger generation of ministers. He even belittled them.
Chu Fan changed his tone at this time and gave Cao Mengde an order in a serious tone:
"Lord Cao, I hope that once you take over the Ministry of War, you will thoroughly overhaul it. Decisive action must be taken against those who are corrupting the morale and harming the entire department. Those who should be arrested should be arrested, and those who should be dismissed should be dismissed. I hope to see a renewed and vibrant Ministry of War."
From the information collected by Eunuch Li, Chu Fan learned that since he delivered important materials and equipment such as cement, stirrups, and saddles to the Ministry of War for management and operation, some officials within the Ministry of War began to become arrogant and presumptuous.
This inflated mentality led to many problems within the Ministry of War. Some officials began to look down on each other, and some even became negligent in their duties, oppressing and exploiting ordinary people.
This situation not only damaged the reputation of the Ministry of War, but also seriously affected the combat effectiveness of the army and the people's trust in the army. Therefore, Chu Fan hoped that Cao Mengde could take strong measures to completely eliminate these unhealthy phenomena and restore the clarity and efficiency of the Ministry of War.
Chu Fan wanted to complete the system mission, which was to overthrow him by the officials of Wei State, rather than let Wei State be destroyed by these officials. Besides, if Wei State was destroyed by people from other countries, Chu Fan would not only fail to complete his mission, but also lose his life here.
Chu Fan didn't want to see this happen, so those corrupt officials who had no ambition would be investigated and punished.
Chu Fan continued to give detailed instructions to Cao Mengde: "Regarding the city guards of Kaifeng City and the three surrounding citadels, a comprehensive investigation must also be carried out.
Those who commit serious crimes such as murder and arson must be severely punished in accordance with the law to ensure the seriousness and fairness of the law.
As for those who have committed less serious crimes, such as abusing their power for personal gain or accepting small bribes,
We can determine the sentence based on the specific circumstances. For those with less serious crimes, we can consider sending them to the coal mines managed by Chang Sun Dechong for labor reform, where they can atone for their sins by digging coal.
Of course, the specific length of labor service will be determined based on the severity of their crimes, ensuring that the punishment fits the crime. After they complete a certain period of labor reform, their release will be decided based on their performance and progress.
Well, these are my current arrangements, Lord Cao, please implement these measures immediately after you leave the court."
Chu Fan felt extremely exhausted, as if all his strength had been drained away. Yesterday, at Changsun Dechong's house, he had given Goudan three bags of blood. After returning to the palace and recalling his knowledge of coal refining, Chu Fan was completely exhausted.
Chu Fan slowly stood up and announced, "I am tired. If you have other matters or questions, please submit your memorials to the Royal Affairs Office and let the members of the Royal Affairs Office handle them."
After Chu Fan finished speaking, he walked towards the outside of Haotian Palace. Eunuch Li stood up and announced, "Dismiss the court." After that, he followed Chu Fan and left.
When Chu Fan walked out of the palace, he was almost unable to hold on. Eunuch Li hurried forward to support Chu Fan and help him return to the bedroom.
Eunuch Li said with concern: "Your Majesty, you are really too tired. You should have a good rest."
Chu Fan nodded and fell asleep on the bed.
While Chu Fan slept, the three citadels were in turmoil. After the court meeting, Cao Mengde took decisive action.
After verifying all the evidence, he publicly executed the lords of the other two cities and their families before the people. Some of the aristocratic families who had oppressed the people were arrested and imprisoned, while others, for serious crimes, were exterminated. Cao Mengde acted decisively and resolutely, without the slightest hesitation or hesitation.
After witnessing the bullies who had oppressed them being brought to justice or slain by the sword of justice, the people in the Acropolis felt immensely relieved and happy. They clapped their hands in joy, their faces filled with unconcealable joy.
After waking up, Chu Fan found that the sky outside had darkened, and the entire room was shrouded in darkness. However, Chu Fan felt as if there was someone beside him. He subconsciously felt around and touched something soft.
When he opened his eyes and looked at the other person carefully, he found that it was Liu Xueyu lying next to him. At this moment, Liu Xueyu was staring at him with her eyes wide open.
Chu Fan asked speechlessly: "Why are you here? Little Li, aren't you afraid that you will kill me?"
Liu Xueyu smiled and replied easily, "So many unexpected things have happened in the past two days. I came here specially to see you and give you some comfort."
Chu Fan's eyes fell on Liu Xueyu. Noticing that she was only wearing a thin piece of clothing, he couldn't help but jokingly said, "Since you're here to comfort me, I see you're wearing so little. You'll definitely be very cold when you go back home tonight. How about this, you stay in the palace tonight."
After saying this, Chu Fan struck a pose like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey and pounced on Liu Xueyu. His movements were sudden and swift, catching people off guard, but at the same time, they also revealed a sense of playfulness and joking.
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