Chen Huai'an recognized it at a glance. The set of golden armor on the tray in the hands of Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War, was the one left to him by the late Emperor Chen Polu, which he then wore as he fought his way through the vast Tang Dynasty.
Later, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who had become the emperor and the supreme ruler, bestowed this set of golden armor upon his younger brother Chen Longxiang, hoping that he would inherit the will of his father and brother.
Now, the golden armor on the tray has long lost its former luster; the dark brown surface looks rusty and mottled, no longer possessing its former glory.
It should be noted that not only did the late Emperor Chen Polu cherish his armor as if it were his life, meticulously maintaining it after every battle, big or small, but the same was true for Chen Huai'an.
Chen Huai'an remembered that the last time Chen Longxiang followed the generals of the imperial army on the eastern expedition, when he returned to the capital to report on his mission on New Year's Eve of the first year of Zhaowu, the golden armor he wore was still well-maintained and in perfect condition.
But what lies before him now is this rusty and mottled appearance;
The current owner of this golden armor did not return to Beijing with it;
In an instant, Chen Huai'an's mind exploded with a buzz!
He probably already guessed what had happened between the army suppressing the rebellion on the Goguryeo front and the rebellious Prince Chen Longxiang.
Almost instinctively, Chen Huai'an's expression froze, and he stood there stunned.
"Your Majesty, I, your guilty subject Chen Qingzhi (Luo Kun), kowtow to Your Majesty—"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
It wasn't until the voices of Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, who was bound with ropes behind his back, and Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War, shouted "Long live the Emperor!" that Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who had been lost in thought, came back to his senses.
"My two esteemed subjects, please rise, no need for formalities!"
Chen Huai'an waved his hand and calmly ordered, "Someone, bring seats to Duke Han and Lord Luo!"
"This sinful subject dares not—"
However, even after Chen Huai'an uttered the words "no need for formalities," "rise," and "take a seat," Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, who considered himself a criminal, did not get up and remained kneeling on the ground.
Just keep your back straight!
Um?
Chen Huai'an frowned slightly, his face showing anger.
He sat upright on the dragon throne in the imperial study and said to the cautious Vice Minister of War, Luo Kun, "Lord Luo, it seems that something has happened on the front line of the Goguryeo rebellion, and I need you to report to me."
"My lord, I obey the order!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War who was merely sitting on a chair, immediately stood up and reported in detail to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who was sitting on the dragon throne in the imperial study, about what had happened on the front line of the suppression of the rebellion on the Goguryeo Peninsula.
As Luo Kun's report went on, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, sitting on the dragon throne, frowned even more deeply.
From Luo Kun, Chen Huai'an learned about his willful younger brother Chen Longxiang's actions in the Goguryeo capital, including the massacre of more than 200,000 Tang soldiers who were left to defend Goguryeo during his rebellion, and how he single-handedly slaughtered an entire city, almost turning the Goguryeo capital into a ghost town.
Furthermore, the former dynasty's infamous empress Su Wan'er died in childbirth, taking the lives of both herself and her unborn child;
The deposed emperor Zhao Lingwu of the previous dynasty died tragically under the golden hammer of Chen Longxiang, who was bloodthirsty and had lost his mind.
Finally, when Chen Huai'an learned from Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War, that on the day the imperial army arrived at the Goguryeo capital, there were strange celestial phenomena and thunderous fury.
Upon hearing the news that the hot-tempered Chen Longxiang had gone so far as to raise a hammer and curse the heavens, only to be taken away by a bolt of lightning, a fleeting shadow of sadness crossed his eyes.
Then, he regained his calm and composed expression.
At the end of his report, Vice Minister of War Luo Kun naturally focused on the issue of how to handle the body of the rebel commander Chen Longxiang.
According to the Tang Dynasty Code, anyone who raises an army to rebel shall have their entire family (nine generations) executed.
As a prince of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Longxiang raised an army in rebellion. According to the law, his clan should be stripped of their titles and his entire family should be executed. Even if Chen Longxiang had already been killed on the front lines of the suppression of the rebellion in Goguryeo, his remains would still be taken back to the imperial city of Jinling and left to rot for three days before being crushed to ashes, in order to warn future generations of the imperial family and the world.
However, Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, who was the first of the six founding dukes of the Tang Dynasty, disregarded the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty and the dignity of the royal family, and disposed of the corpse of the traitor Chen Longcheng without authorization.
To this day, apart from Chen Qing, the Duke of Han, no one else knows the whereabouts of the traitor Chen Longxiang, as well as the corpses of the former empress and deposed emperor.
It was for this reason that Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, ordered Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War, to bring him back from the Goguryeo Peninsula to the capital to report.
"Your Majesty, the above is what I saw and heard during my mission as the military supervisor of the Ministry of War to quell the rebellion on the Goguryeo Peninsula. I have submitted this report for Your Majesty's approval!"
After speaking, Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War, bowed slightly and stood respectfully before Chen Huai'an with his head lowered.
Um!
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an nodded and waved his hand, instructing, "Lord Luo, please sit down!"
Immediately afterwards, Chen Huai'an's gaze fell back on Chen Qingzhi, the "disgraced official" Duke of Han, who was still kneeling upright in the imperial study.
Chen Huai'an asked, "Lord Han, do you have anything to add?"
Chen Qingzhi shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, everything Lord Luo said is true. This humble subject has nothing more to say!"
Chen Huai'an continued, "Duke of Han, have you considered that your actions are a blatant challenge to the laws of the Tang Dynasty? Do you understand what kind of punishment you will face if you are dealt with according to the law?"
Chen Qingzhi nodded calmly and replied, "Your Majesty, this humble subject understands!"
Looking at Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, kneeling in the Imperial Study, his eyes filled with a resolute determination as if he were about to die for his country, Chen Huai'an remained silent for a long time.
a long time.
He finally couldn't help but ask, "Lord Han, is what you're doing worth it?"
Chen Qingzhi laughed, a laugh that was frank and carefree.
Without hesitation, he replied, "Your Majesty, many things in this world are neither worthwhile nor not worthwhile; it's simply a matter of having a clear conscience!"
Chen Huai'an frowned, but did not ask another question.
He raised his hand and ordered, "Xiao Po, take the Duke of Han to the Ministry of Justice prison to await his fate!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!"
Soon, Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guard who was waiting outside the Imperial Study, hurriedly led several soldiers of the Imperial Guard dressed in golden armor into the Imperial Study, took away Duke Chen Qingzhi of Han, and imprisoned him in the Ministry of Justice prison.
Immediately afterward, Chen Huai'an instructed Luo Kun, the Vice Minister of War: "Lord Luo, return to the Ministry of War immediately to report back and compile a report on the events that occurred on the front lines of the Goguryeo rebellion, and send a copy to all six ministries."
"Furthermore, at tomorrow's court assembly, Lord Luo, you will take the initiative to report this matter, allowing all civil and military officials to discuss it in court!"
"My lord, I obey—"
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