Chapter 67
Shengjing, Imperial City, Golden Palace.
The atmosphere at today's court meeting was oppressive, like the dead silence before a storm. The emperor's face, hidden behind the twelve jewels of jade, rested indistinctly on the dragon throne. A heavy, mountainous pressure enveloped the entire room. Civil and military officials bowed their heads and held their breath, none daring to utter a single word. Only Cao Wushang, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, stood at the side of the imperial steps. A faint sneer played on his lips, his gaze sweeping down below like a hawk, a look of control and indifference.
However, beneath this dead silence lies a surging undercurrent.
Over the past two weeks, unrest has erupted along the Jiangnan Grand Canal. First, several copies of account books and fragments of confessions, seemingly from unknown sources, quietly appeared on the desks of several renowned censors. They clearly documented the routes and quantities of fine iron smuggled northwards on grain ships, along with details of the huge bribes received by garrisons along the way to allow the shipments. The finger of blame was vaguely pointed at the Yunze Society, which controlled the Grand Canal, and... the looming shadow of the East Depot behind it.
Immediately afterwards, undercurrents began to surge within the Cao Gang. A group of old subordinates, led by Luo Manzi, joined forces with some canal workers and boat owners who were dissatisfied with the Yunze Society's domineering behavior, and began to secretly collude and collect more evidence. They even had several small conflicts with the Yunze Society in some key waterways. Although no major chaos occurred, it was enough to make the capital, which relied on the canal transportation, feel an unusual tremor.
Public opinion was also quietly fermenting. In teahouses and taverns, rumors of "injustice in the northern border," "fine iron aiding the enemy," and "loyalty and integrity being discredited" spread quietly. Although no one dared to explicitly point to Cao Wushang, the suppressed resentment and doubt, like underground fire, gathered strength in silence.
Naturally, none of this could be hidden from Cao Wushang's eyes. His East Depot agents attacked like mad dogs, arresting numerous individuals accused of spreading rumors and attempting to sever the source of information. Luo Manzi and his men were also targeted several times, suffering heavy losses and forced into deeper seclusion. But rumors, like dandelion seeds, are hard to eradicate once they're spread.
Cao Wushang remained impassive, but deep down he was fuming with genuine anger, and even a subtle hint of suspicion. He hadn't imagined that Gu Linzhi, who was supposed to have died in Falling Star Valley, was not only still alive, but had managed to stir up such a storm in such a short time! And what about the evidence... How many tricks did that bitch Su Wanwan have left?
He knew that he had to kill Gu Linzhi as soon as possible and completely eliminate all hidden dangers. Today's court meeting was the time for him to launch a general offensive, thoroughly prove Gu Linzhi's guilt, and take the opportunity to purge the potential opposition forces in the court.
"Your Majesty," Cao Wushang took a step forward, his voice soft but clear, echoing throughout the hall, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to make."
Everyone's heart was lifted. The storm was coming.
"After several days of investigation by the East Depot, it has been confirmed that Gu Linzhi, the former commander of Jingbei and commander of Shadow Scale, was indeed colluding with the Northern Di Snow Spider Pavilion. He abused his power to smuggle refined iron out of the country through the Cao Gang for a long time, aiding the enemy and committing treason! During the investigation, he also murdered an official of the imperial court and attacked arresting officers of the East Depot. The evidence is irrefutable and his crimes are unforgivable! This is one of his crimes."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over the solemn-looking censors and Feng Zijing's former students and friends, before continuing, "Secondly, after Gu Linzhi fled for fear of punishment, he refused to repent and instead colluded with the rebellious grain transport gang, spreading rumors, inciting civil unrest, and disrupting grain transport, intending to undermine the foundation of the nation! He deserves death!"
"Here are the confessions of Luo Manzi, the rebel leader of the Cao Gang, and others, the seized fine iron, the secret letters, and the relevant witnesses and evidence. Your Majesty, please take a look!" Cao Wushang waved his hand, and the eunuch who had been prepared presented a stack of so-called "evidence" to the emperor.
There was an uproar in the hall. Although many people had doubts in their hearts, under the accumulated power of Cao Wushang, most of them dared to be angry but not to speak out.
Cao Wushang's sneer widened, and he struck while the iron was hot, "Gu Lin's crimes are extremely heinous. I request that Your Majesty issue an order for his immediate arrest warrant to be issued throughout the country. Anyone found guilty must be executed without mercy! A thorough investigation must also be conducted into his collusion within the court to rectify the government and reassure the people!"
He wanted to kill them all and label anyone who might have been involved with Gu Linzhi as a "gangster"!
Several upright censors blushed, attempting to step forward to rebut the allegations, but were restrained by their colleagues. Li Wenyuan, a student of Feng Zijing and the Minister of War, clenched his fists, veins bulging, but lacking any solid evidence, he found it difficult to speak.
Sitting on the dragon throne, the emperor remained silent, his tassels swaying slightly, and no one could see his expression.
Just when Cao Wushang thought the situation was settled and murderous intent was burning in his heart—
"Your Majesty! I have a memorial to report!"
A clear, somewhat weak, yet extremely firm voice suddenly came from outside the hall!
Everyone turned around in shock! They saw a figure staggering but determinedly stepping over the high threshold of the Golden Palace against the light and stepping into the palace!
The man was dressed in a black cloth that had been washed to a pale color. He was thin and his face was as pale as paper. There was still blood at the corner of his mouth. Only his eyes were as cold as the abyss, but burning with an unyielding flame, and they looked straight at the emperor on the throne!
If it's not Gu Linzhi, then who else could it be? !
How dare he break into the Golden Palace at this time?!
"Gu Linzhi!" Cao Wushang's pupils suddenly shrank, and he was filled with shock and anger. He shouted, "How dare you, a traitor, trespass into the Golden Palace?! Come! Capture him!"
The guards outside the palace moved upon hearing the sound!
"Let's see who dares!"
Gu Linzhi suddenly straightened his back. Although he was weak, the aura of a man who had long held a high position and commanded thousands of troops suddenly burst out, causing the guards who rushed in to pause! He ignored the blade at his neck, his eyes still fixed on the emperor, his voice hoarse but every word clear:
"Your Majesty! I, Gu Linzhi, have risked my life to come here today, not to seek my own life, but to seek justice! I beg for justice for the 70,000 Jingbei Army soldiers in the northern border! I beg for justice for this bright and clear world!"
He suddenly pulled something out of his arms. It was not the heavy camphorwood box, but a thin booklet with a blood-stained cover and several secret letters!
"This is the account book written in blood by Ge Ping, a loyal and righteous member of the Cao Gang, before his death! It records in detail every transaction Cao Wushang instructs the Yunze Society to use the Cao ships to smuggle fine iron, bribe the guards along the river, and transport it to Beidi! The time, place, quantity, and people involved are all included!"
"This is a copy of the secret correspondence between the Northern Di Snow Spider Pavilion and Cao Wushang! It bears Cao Wushang's personal seal as proof! Not only does it discuss a trade in refined iron, but it also mentions a plot to use 'buzzing copper whistles' to control assassins, assassinate important officials, and disrupt the government!"
"This is some evidence that Su Wanwan, the former Purple Owl, risked her life to collect, alleging that Cao Wushang was colluding with the Snow Spider Pavilion, framing loyal officials, and... that the so-called 'Mother Nest' behind them was infiltrating our dynasty!"
Every time Gu Linzhi spoke, he would present a piece of evidence. His voice was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart! The wound under his ribs burst open again due to this action, and blood quickly stained his black clothes red, but he seemed unaware.
"Cao Wushang!" Gu Linzhi suddenly turned to Cao Wushang, whose face was ashen, his eyes filled with hatred and contempt. "You framed me, massacred loyal officials, colluded with the enemy, usurped power, and brought disaster to the country and the people! Today, in front of His Majesty and the entire court, do you dare to confront me?! Do you dare to look at this overwhelming evidence?!"
"Nonsense! Forgery! Totally forgery!" Cao Wushang was shocked and furious. He had never imagined that Gu Linzhi could actually obtain such crucial evidence! He roared fiercely, "Your Majesty! This is Gu Linzhi's last-ditch effort, fabricating evidence and slandering important officials of the court! He deserves death! Your Majesty, please order this traitor to be executed by slow slicing immediately!"
"Forgery?" Gu Linzhi sneered, picked up the blood-stained account book, turned to a page, and said aloud, "On the seventh day of the third month in the seventh year of Yuanhe, the grain ship 'Yun Zi No. 3' loaded 300 kilograms of fine iron at Heishiji. Zhou Fu, a steward of the Yunze Society, bribed Zhang Meng, a captain of the Youzhou Guard, to let it pass through the customs... Eunuch Cao, do you need me to read every single entry to Your Majesty and my colleagues? Do you need me to call out Zhou Fu's family, who luckily survived and have secretly entered the capital, and Deputy General Zhang Meng, who you failed to silence, for a face-to-face confrontation?!"
His eyes flashed as he picked up another secret letter. "This letter also mentioned that during the salt tax case, the Xie residence was raided and the 'seven boxes' seized contained clues to the military ration case, as well as evidence of your corruption and collusion with the princes! Why were you so anxious to destroy or hide the remaining boxes?!"
Sentence after sentence, item after item, was like peeling off skin and pulling out tendons, exposing the filth and sins beneath Cao Wushang's gorgeous official robes nakedly in broad daylight!
The officials in the palace were initially shocked, then in uproar, and now in a dead silence. Everyone's eyes were focused on Gu Linzhi and Cao Wushang, and their hearts were already filled with turmoil! The evidence was logically rigorous and detailed, and it was definitely not something that could be fabricated on the spur of the moment!
Several upright censors could no longer hold back and stepped forward:
"Your Majesty! If what Lord Gu said is true, Cao Wushang's crimes are extremely heinous and condemned by both heaven and man!"
"Your Majesty, I beg you to investigate clearly! Restore the innocence of the soldiers of the northern border! Restore the integrity of the court!"
Li Wenyuan was so excited that he was trembling all over. He fell to the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty! Before his death, Elder Feng secretly reported Cao Wushang's collaboration with the enemy! I am willing to guarantee with my life that everything you said is true! Your Majesty, please eradicate this traitor and clean up the government!"
The situation reversed in an instant!
Cao Wushang's face turned pale, and veins throbbing on his forehead. He looked fiercely at the emperor on the dragon throne and hissed, "Your Majesty! Don't believe this traitor's one-sided words! I am loyal to Your Majesty and the court!"
What he has always relied on is the emperor's trust and acquiescence.
However, the emperor, who had been silent up to that point, finally spoke slowly from the dragon throne. His voice was inexpressible, but carried a cold, exhausted, and resolute tone:
"Cao Wushang."
Just three words made Cao Wushang feel like he was falling into an icy cave!
The emperor slowly picked up the owl token from Doctor Ling, which was quietly presented by the Imperial Household Department, and a secret letter on the imperial desk. He looked at them for a moment with a complicated look, then swept over the blood-stained evidence in Gu Linzhi's hands, and finally fell on Cao Wushang, who looked as pale as death.
"You disappoint me so much."
In one sentence, it is like the final judgment.
"Draft an edict." The emperor's voice regained its imperial dignity and coldness. "Cao Wushang, the eunuch holding the seal of the Imperial Household Department, has colluded with the Northern Di, framed loyal officials, and embezzled state funds. The evidence is irrefutable. He is to be immediately dismissed from all official positions, imprisoned, and rigorously interrogated. He will be punished according to the law! All affairs of the East Factory will be temporarily handed over to Feng Bao."
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please spare my life, Your Majesty!" Cao Wushang collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face. He wanted to struggle, but was quickly dragged away by the ferocious guards in front of the palace. His shrill cries for mercy gradually disappeared outside the palace.
The emperor's gaze turned once again to the bloodied and shaky Gu Linzhi. After a long silence, he slowly said, "Gu Linzhi."
"I'm here." Gu Linzhi forced himself to salute.
"You... have been wronged." The emperor's voice was filled with a subtle complexity. "Regarding the Northern Border Army's rations case, I will order a retrial and will definitely clear the name of the Jingbei Army. You... should return home and recuperate first."
There was no consolation, no restoration, only a light-hearted "I've been wronged" and "Recover from your injuries." Obviously, although the emperor punished Cao Wushang, Gu Linzhi's behavior of trespassing into the Golden Palace and forcing the emperor and his father also violated the emperor's taboo.
Gu Linzhi's heart was filled with cold clarity. He had long expected this. Toppling Cao Wushang and clearing the name of seventy thousand heroes was already the best possible outcome. As for personal honor and disgrace… He glanced at the blood-stained evidence in his hands, and thought of Mo Ya, Su Wanwan, Feng Zijing… Those who had passed away had never sought these things.
He bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."
Without another word, he dragged his body, which was on the verge of breaking point, and under the complicated gazes of all the officials, he staggered and walked out of the Golden Palace, which symbolized the pinnacle of power but was also full of conspiracy and blood, step by step, firmly.
Outside the hall, the sunlight was dazzling.
The sky over Shengjing City seemed to be a little clearer.
But Gu Linzhi knew that even though Cao Wushang had fallen, the "mother nest" hidden deep in the shadows had not yet been eradicated, and the corrupt court was deeply entrenched. The road ahead was still long and difficult.
However, the torch has been passed on and the lone spearhead remains unbroken.
He raised his head and looked into the distance, which was the direction of the north.
End of article
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
