Chapter 194 Promoted to Prefect, Appointed to Yingzhou
Under the indifferent gaze of the upright officials, and amidst the bewildered and remorseful expressions of the corrupt officials, Gao Qiu's psychological defenses completely crumbled. She finally realized that she had lost.
He knelt down with a thud, crying his heart out: "Your Majesty, I am guilty! I deserve to die a thousand deaths!!" He kowtowed deeply.
"I was blinded by greed and committed such a heinous crime, failing Your Majesty's boundless trust! Every time I think of Your Majesty's trust in me, my heart aches and I cannot sleep at night!"
She changed the subject, saying, "I did indeed send someone to assassinate Zhang Ting, but I had my reasons! This man is arrogant and self-willed, disregarding the Emperor's grace. Under the guise of governing the people, he has turned Zhangzhou and Yinzhou prefectures into his own backyard. His prestige and reputation are so great that the local people know Zhang Ting, but not Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty has reigned for many years, how can you allow a mere child to ride on your head? Where is the dignity of the emperor? I have been sleepless day and night, wishing I could exterminate all the treacherous officials and villains, which is why I have committed this heinous crime!" She covered her face with her sleeve and wept, saying, "I know my sins are grave, and I beg Your Majesty to consider the meager efforts I have made in assisting the government for more than ten years and grant me a dignified death!"
After these words were spoken, the tide turned again, and Zhang Ting, who had accumulated fame and support due to his meritorious governance, became the target of public criticism.
After all, a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.
All eyes of the court officials shifted between Zhang Ting and Gao Qiu; the old man and the young man were evenly matched when they started fighting.
"Gao Qiu, your crime has not yet been determined. You may rise." Even Emperor Chengtai's gaze towards Zhang Ting carried a hint of scrutiny and wariness.
Throughout history, there have been numerous examples of people whose achievements overshadowed their rulers.
The corrupt officials secretly praised their superiors' brilliant plan. Under heaven, all land belongs to the emperor. To covet what does not belong to them is to offend His Majesty's majesty. How could Zhang Ting possibly have a chance to turn things around?
Their eyes were all fixed on Zhang Ting, as if waiting for her to end her fate of defeat.
In this situation, the person who should have been panicked remained calm and composed, seemingly unable to display the anxiety and fear that ordinary people possess.
Suddenly she moved.
He walked slowly to His Majesty, bowed deeply, and said, “Your humble servant has been entrusted with the Emperor’s favor in governing Zhangzhou and Yinzhou prefectures. I have successfully reformed the administration and rebuilt the people’s livelihood. I have done my best to fulfill my mission. This is entirely due to Your Majesty’s favor and respect, which has enabled me to achieve great success and receive widespread praise. This is the first point.”
"The people revere Your Majesty, and by extension, they support your policies, which has led to smooth governance and social harmony in Zhangzhou and Yinzhou, and the revitalization of all things. This is by no means the achievement of this humble servant alone, but a gift from Your Majesty's majesty! This is the second point."
The officials in the court nodded in agreement. Zhang Ting's counterattack from this angle was quite brilliant and sharp!
Upon hearing her words, Emperor Chengtai immediately recalled how Zhang Ting had made a name for him in Yinzhou Prefecture. His doubts vanished, and a smile returned to his lips, his eyes filled with praise. This was the kind of loyal and trusted minister he should rely on.
"Your Majesty possesses exceptional insight and keen understanding of people's hearts. The court is filled with outstanding and capable civil and military officials. Choosing any one of them to govern the two prefectures would bring prosperity and happiness to the people. This is the third point."
Her eyes shone brightly, and her words were resounding: "Throughout history, wise and virtuous rulers have treated their ministers like arms, sending them to places they could not reach to govern the people, making them as attentive as if they were their own arms, thus bringing peace to the land. If being rewarded and loved for governing the people is considered a fault, then how should future ministers conduct themselves? And how can Your Majesty gain the trust of the people?"
This last passage, like a cage, tightly locks Gao Qiu inside, both giving an answer and cutting off all her escape routes.
Even more resonated deeply with the officials of the court.
Yes, if those who have rendered meritorious service are punished, who will be willing to work for the benefit of the nation? Who will be willing to be loyal to His Majesty?
"Lord Gao, you harbor treacherous intentions, aiming to annihilate the eternal dynasty of my Great Yong Dynasty!" In the very end, she delivered a heavy blow.
The vast hall was completely silent.
Gao Qiu was completely overwhelmed by her, and retreated in defeat, looking like a drowning dog in a panic.
She looked helplessly at the officials of the Ministry of Personnel behind her. They were the only force that could support her and stand up for her. But faced with Zhang Tingtai's overwhelming questioning, taking a step forward would make her a traitor, and no one dared to step forward to plead for her anymore.
Gao Qiu had his arm cut off and was completely isolated and helpless.
Even the courtiers who had been watching coldly began to condemn her, saying, "Your Majesty, I implore you to execute this treacherous minister!"
"Our Great Yong Dynasty will last for ten thousand generations and must never be destroyed by this villain! Your Majesty, I beg you to eliminate this wicked man for the sake of the nation and restore order to the country!"
"This traitor has brought disaster to the country and shaken the very foundation of the nation. Your Majesty, if he is not executed, the country will cease to exist!"
Gao Qiu's forehead and nose were quickly covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. He staggered back several steps, feeling as if his spine had been removed.
Looking up again, she saw Emperor Chengtai's gaze filled with disgust, abandonment, and murderous intent. A chill ran down her spine. It was over. Everything was over…
Gao Qiu knelt down in a panic, begging Emperor Chengtai for mercy. He was a far cry from his former imposing and powerful minister. He was utterly pathetic, which confirmed her previous assumptions about Zhang Ting—a useless person who was clinging to life and powerless to save his fate.
Zhang Ting shook his head. As the sage said: "Those who do evil will not live."
Emperor Chengtai fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his hand, looking at Gao Qiu's disgraceful behavior below, as well as at the indignant ministers, his face expressionless, lost in thought for a long time.
Time seemed to stand still, yet it carried a deadly call.
Gao Qiu kowtowed until his head was covered in blood, but he still dared not stop.
Before long, Emperor Chengtai slowly stood up and coldly pronounced his verdict: "Minister of Personnel Gao Qiu has oppressed the people, persecuted loyal officials, and accepted bribes. His crimes are unforgivable! He is hereby stripped of his official rank, escorted to the execution ground for public execution, and beheaded as a warning to others! All his property is confiscated and used for national purposes. His three clans are exterminated as a warning to others!"
"The rest of your accomplices..." she glanced at the assembled officials, "send them to the authorities for interrogation, and show them no mercy!"
"Dismiss the court."
She flicked her sleeve and left with her large entourage of palace servants.
Gao Qiu's face drained of all color, like a bleached sheet of paper. He slumped to the ground, blood streaming down his forehead and covering his entire face, before finally bursting into a deep wail.
After Emperor Tai left, Zhang Ting left calmly and without even giving the person slumped on the ground a second glance.
Gao Qiu laughed and cried at the same time. It turned out that she was not the hunter all along, but the prey who was unknowingly trapped and even performed a smug act.
In Zhang Ting's eyes, she was nothing more than a clown from beginning to end.
...
Getting rid of Gao Qiu was not only an inevitable trend and in line with public opinion, but also something that Emperor Cheng Tai had long wanted to do.
There's no other reason than that Gao Qiu climbed up to the fifth prince and thought he had rendered meritorious service by supporting the emperor, so he didn't take her seriously and had been too presumptuous over the years.
This put an end to his worries, but Emperor Chengtai was not happy.
Xu Qiu approached her, "Your Majesty, why are you so worried? Eliminating wicked traitors for the sake of the country is a fortunate thing!"
Emperor Chengtai nodded, then shook his head.
"It is a blessing for the country, but I have encountered a thorny problem."
Xu Qiu did not ask any further questions. The only thing that Emperor Chengtai found troublesome was probably the affairs of the court.
Emperor Chengtai murmured, "Those who lack virtue and talent for their positions are the ones who cause these troubles. Xu Pin in the past, Gao Qiu now, aren't they all examples of this?"
Xu Qiu: "Xu and Gao are greedy because they have overreached themselves."
"Yes." Emperor Chengtai nodded in agreement, and said, "Power breeds ambition, but Zhang Ting is a person who is both talented and virtuous, and she is deeply loved by me. I want her to advance faster, but I am also worried that I will force her to grow too fast and cause a disaster."
"Old friend, what do you think I should do?"
Instead of offering advice, Xu Qiu laughed and said, "Your mistress is really wicked. You've clearly made up your mind, yet you still ask me?"
Emperor Chengtai chuckled: "Oh?"
Xu Qiu: "At first you said that the talent and virtue were not commensurate with the position, which caused the trouble of Xu and Gao. Later you said that Lord Zhang was talented and virtuous. Doesn't that mean that Lord Zhang's talent and virtue are commensurate with his position? Why are you asking me what I think?"
Emperor Chengtai laughed heartily, "As expected, nothing can be hidden from you." His probing intent waned somewhat.
She declared firmly and without question: "I will promote her to prefect." Through this incident, she saw Zhang Ting's humility, composure, and unwavering loyalty, and her affection for him grew even stronger.
He stretched his neck, then tapped Xu Qiu, "Unfold the map of the Nine Provinces for me."
Xu Qiu, accompanied by two maids, presented the territory of Dayong to Emperor Chengtai, one by one.
Emperor Chengtai's hand caressed every inch of it.
The leather map, bathed in the light of the main hall, exudes a sense of antiquity and weight.
"Where should I send my beloved minister?" She pondered for a long time, her brows furrowed.
"Zhangzhou Prefecture is not suitable." Zhang Ting's prestige is too great, and there is a risk of unrest.
"Tongzhou Prefecture is not suitable." Zhang Tingchang resides here, and the people's opinions are understood.
"Huzhou Prefecture is not suitable." It is too wealthy, and Zhang Ting is very learned and easily gains the support of his students.
"Taizhou Prefecture is not suitable." The Zhang family, a wealthy and powerful clan, is located here; they are the relatives of Zhang Ting's teacher.
"Yinzhou Prefecture is no good." The flood had just been controlled, and public opinion was at its peak.
Emperor Chengtai sighed, "My territory is vast and expansive, yet there is not a single place that can accommodate my beloved minister?"
Xu Qiu buried her head deeply and didn't say a word.
Suddenly, Emperor Chengtai's fingertip landed on a certain spot and froze there.
Having not heard her master's voice for a long time, Xu Qiu looked up in confusion and stared wide-eyed in shock at the spot where her master's finger had landed.
That is...!
Emperor Chengtai laughed, pointing repeatedly to this spot, "Could this be fate? Zhang Ting and my Chen family are destined to be together." He was filled with deep emotion and感慨.
She closed her eyes briefly, a slight smile playing on her lips. A golden opportunity had been presented to her; let her give them another try.
"By imperial decree, Zhang Ting, the Prefect of Zhangzhou and Imperial Commissioner and Governor of Yinzhou, is hereby appointed Prefect of Yingzhou, so that the government may govern fairly, the courts may be just, and the people may live in peace and prosperity!"
Inside the Zichen Palace, the air seemed to freeze, and all the palace servants held their breath, even forgetting to move.
Xu Qiu's pupils dilated suddenly; what she heard was unbelievable.
Yingzhou Prefecture? That's the foundation of the nation, the hidden stronghold of the royal family! What kind of deep affection must they have placed in this place to entrust it to a young man?
Furthermore, Zhang Ting had only been promoted to prefect for three years, and now he had been promoted three ranks again to become the chief official of a prefecture.
This speed of promotion is truly astonishing!
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