However, how could the Wei generals let them escape back to the city so easily? The Wei army pursued them all the way and directly surrounded the enemy's city. Because the enemy had suffered heavy losses in the previous battle and their morale was low, the Wei army did not encounter much resistance and quickly broke through the city gates and occupied these cities.
Of course, these cities all followed the model of the city of Kov to appease the people, eliminate the big families and lawless elements in the city, and then rebuild these cities and build infrastructure to facilitate the people.
Chu Fan saw that there was still plenty of time left before half a month. After dealing with the situation in Kefu City, Chu Fan did not stay in Kefu City for too long, but continued to lead the Wei army to other cities in Gan State. After all, Chu Fan's ultimate goal was to destroy Gan State and incorporate its land into the territory of Wei State.
In the following period, the Wei army captured many cities of the Gan Kingdom in succession. Every time a city was captured, Chu Fan would use the methods he had used in the city of Kofu to first stabilize the emotions of the people in the city, and then settle accounts with the dignitaries and aristocratic families in the city.
When faced with such a powerful Wei army, the defenders of Gan State often abandoned their cities and fled after a brief resistance, not daring to engage in direct confrontation with the Wei army. In many cities, low-ranking generals even killed the city lord and the defending generals and voluntarily opened the city to surrender in exchange for leniency from the Wei State.
After all, they knew that the Wei army would not kill ordinary people or soldiers, but would show no mercy to the powerful and powerful who had oppressed the people and committed many evil deeds. As low-ranking generals or soldiers, they did not participate in those actions of oppressing the people, so they could choose to surrender to save themselves.
Chu Fan started his return journey on the tenth day after he came out. After all, there was an important matter in Kaifeng City that he needed to deal with personally.
In this way, in just half a month, most of the territory of the State of Gan fell into the hands of the State of Wei. Of course, the main reason for this half month was that the soldiers spent most of their time on marching, and not much time was actually spent on fighting.
When the emperor of Gan State learned that Wei State's army was so powerful, he was frightened and quickly sent envoys to Wei State to seek peace, hoping that Wei State would stop the attack. Gan State was willing to cede several cities to Wei State in exchange for Wei State's withdrawal, hoping that the two countries could coexist peacefully in the future.
However, Chu Fan scoffed at the Emperor Gan's request for peace. After all, Chu Fan's ultimate goal was to destroy Gan. How could he stop at this time?
After entertaining the envoy of Gan State with delicious food and drinks, he was allowed to go back. After all, Gan State did not kill the envoy of Wei State when Wei State was in the most dangerous time, so naturally it would not take any excessive actions against the envoy of Gan State now.
After Chu Fan returned to Kaifeng City, the fifteen-day deadline originally given to the Royal Government Affairs Office and the Ministry of Personnel had arrived, so Chu Fan immediately convened the first court meeting in several months.
The court ministers standing in the Chengtian Hall also knew some news in the past half month. After all, the Royal Government Affairs Office and the Ministry of Personnel had been arresting court officials on a large scale during this period. Most of these court officials were related to His Majesty's new education reform. These ministers could also guess what these people were doing secretly. Therefore, since His Majesty, who usually did not attend the morning court, hurriedly withdrew from the battlefield to convene a court meeting, it obviously meant that something big was about to happen.
Of course, the simplest and most direct evidence is that whenever a disaster or unfortunate event occurred in the State of Wei, His Majesty would summon all officials to a court meeting in the Chengtian Hall. When His Majesty wanted to bestow rewards upon ministers, He would usually hold a court meeting in the Haotian Hall. (Is it possible that I got the two halls mixed up when I wrote this?)
Chu Fan sat solemnly on the dragon throne. After all the ministers had completed the necessary court ceremonies, they stood neatly on both sides of the hall waiting for His Majesty's order.
However, when Qin Hui was brought into the hall, everyone was stunned. The Qin family was a very old family in Wei. Could His Majesty really ignore the Qin family's influence in the Wei court and the old relationship between the Qin family and the royal family and take action against the Qin family?
Qin Hui knelt calmly in the center of the hall, seemingly anticipating what was about to happen. After all, the prince of the Imperial Affairs Office and the Minister of Personnel had already interrogated her numerous times, and they already had ample evidence. Furthermore, several ministers involved in this power struggle had already confessed everything. Qin Hui knew she could no longer argue.
Chu Fan's eyes swept over all the ministers present and he slowly said, "Qin Hui, do you admit your guilt?"
Qin Hui raised her head and looked directly at Chu Fan: "I plead guilty, but I refuse to accept the punishment."
Chu Fan asked, "Do you have anything to say about your abuse of power in the new education reform, colluding with officials from various departments to engage in power-for-money transactions, and accepting bribes, which has left a serious stain on the court's education reform?"
Qin Hui lowered his head and replied, "I have no objection to this matter. These things were indeed my fault, and I am willing to bear the punishment I deserve. However, this is not the matter that I object to Your Majesty."
Chu Fan didn't know what Qin Hui was dissatisfied with, so he continued to ask: "What are you dissatisfied with? Just tell me."
Qin Hui slowly raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Qin family has a centuries-old relationship with the imperial family. I, an old minister, even served as the prime minister during the reign of the previous emperor. However, since your majesty ascended the throne, you have always been partial to the royal family and the six ministries, and have never given me, the prime minister, the trust and importance I deserve.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
