sjar Chapter 1296
Chapter 1296
It's just past 5 AM!
The palace gates, which Yan Gao, Zhang Cheng, and other ministers had been hoping for, opened as promised.
Lin Pingzhi, with his usual smile, stood at the entrance to the palace, 'respectfully welcoming' the ministers in.
Of course, they also gave me the cold shoulder.
In particular, Zhang, the Vice Minister whose servant was beaten to death, openly remarked as he passed by him, "Castrated dog..."
"If you don't die today, I, the Vice Minister, will take your surname."
Upon hearing this, Lin Pingzhi replied with a smile, "Minister Zhang, you shouldn't be so insulting."
"If Duke Xu knew that our family had such an unfilial descendant, he might wipe us out as well."
Zhang Cheng, who had thought Lin Pingzhi would be submissive, was instantly thrown off balance upon hearing these words.
"you……"
“Minister Zhang, do not engage in a verbal battle with this castrated dog.”
"After the morning court session, he'll have his day to cry."
After being persuaded by his colleagues, Zhang Cheng spat and stormed off.
Just as they arrived at the Golden Palace, Lin Pingzhi, who was originally guarding the palace gate, ordered: "Close the palace gate."
"Remember this, except for the things arranged by Duke Xu."
"No news is allowed to enter the palace today."
"No one is allowed to spread any information about what is happening inside the palace before the Eastern Depot takes formal action."
"To avoid the news leaking out."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Lin Pingzhi looked up at the slowly rising sun.
She smiled alluringly and said, "It's wonderful! The weather has cleared up."
"The capital still belongs to the Xu family."
After muttering these words meaningfully, he slowly turned around and walked towards the Golden Palace with his head held high.
Today, he will stand guard outside the palace.
We are ready to take action against this group of so-called high-ranking officials at any time.
A slap in the face doesn't last overnight.
This is a rule set by our own Duke Xu!
In the Golden Palace...
Despite being unwell, Zhu Youwei remained diligent in her duties as soon as she sat down.
The censors and officials under Yan Gao then launched a massive impeachment campaign.
On the surface, the impeachment was directed at the Northern Garrison Command, but between the lines, it was clear that Xu Shan was stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
"Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is arbitrarily arresting people in the capital on trumped-up charges."
"It provoked the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people."
"If no one had instructed them to do this, they wouldn't have dared to do it even if they had ten times the courage."
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you thoroughly investigate this matter to quell public anger!"
After Yan Gao summarized his words, many ministers in the court stood up to echo his sentiments.
The most radical among them was Zhang Cheng, the Vice Minister of War, who suffered repeated humiliations.
No sooner had these adults finished speaking than he stepped forward and immediately added, "Your Majesty!"
"The arrogant behavior of the Northern Garrison Commander, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot not only aroused the anger of the common people, but also made the many garrisons stationed around the capital feel indignant."
"We jointly petitioned the Ministry of War to abolish it!"
"Otherwise, it will be the root of disaster for the country and its people."
"I hope Your Majesty will take this seriously."
"Otherwise, it could lead to a major disaster."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, the senior officials and some military officers standing at the front glanced at him. Then, many of them revealed cold smiles.
He deliberately brought up the garrison around the capital. He did so again after the censors and officials had offered their advice.
This clearly smacked of a coup. But at this point, aside from a few ministers from humble backgrounds who had received favors from Xu Shan, none spoke out in rebuttal…
The rest of the people remained silent.
For them, there wasn't much of a conflict of interest with Xu Shan.
However, his power was far too great.
All the established rules and conventions that had been followed throughout history were broken by him.
Especially after recovering Shu and Jiangxi, and devising a plan to capture the 100,000-strong Jiangnan navy...
Xu Shan is no longer just second to the emperor; he's far more powerful than his master!
Furthermore, there was his terrifying control over the capital, and the pervasive influence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guard…
All of this terrified the ministers.
Therefore……
For the sake of their own future, most of them remained silent, even if they did not stand up to second the motion.
"Minister Zhang, what do you mean by 'causing a major disaster'?"
"Will the troops stationed in the important towns surrounding the capital mutiny?"
"Or are you afraid that my personal guards and the secret police will go too far and expose your secrets?"
'Wow.'
When Zhu Youwei made these words with obvious bias, the huge Golden Palace erupted in an uproar.
"His Majesty!"
"Do not easily believe the slander of treacherous officials. It chills us to the bone; our loyal and devoted hearts are broken."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
'Plop.'
As he said this, some of the censors and officials, led by Zhang Cheng and Yan Gao, immediately knelt on the ground.
"Your unwavering loyalty must have a price among the eight great families of Jinzhou, right?"
"what?"
"Your Majesty, why do you say such a thing?"
'Snapped. '
Just as Zhang Cheng, who was in charge, finished shouting these words, Zhu Youwei grabbed a memorial from the tray that Hong Gu was holding and threw it at his face from a distance.
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone in the court.
"In the seventh year of the Jingtai reign, when you were still the commander of the Jinzhou garrison, you falsely reported that there were 5,237 troops stationed there. Not only did you embezzle military funds, but you also orchestrated the distribution of military equipment from the Ministry of War to Jinzhou."
"It was handed over to the Wu family, one of the eight great families of Jinzhou, for smuggling to the barbarian tribes."
"In the tenth year of the Jingtai reign, you used these ill-gotten gains to bribe officials in various ways. Taking advantage of the time when I was dealing with the Donglin Party, you were recruited into the Ministry of War."
"It was from this year that you began to use your position to open doors of convenience for the Wu family of Jinzhou."
"This led to the smuggling of the Ministry of War's superior equipment and provisions to the northern deserts!"
"The thirteenth year of the Jingtai reign..."
When Zhu Youwei recounted Zhang Cheng's heinous crimes over the years, one by one, all the officials in the court turned their astonished gazes toward this fellow.
Looking at the memorial, I saw the meticulous records.
Listening to His Majesty's accusations in the Golden Palace.
Zhang Cheng, his face deathly pale, was trembling all over.
But he also knew that as long as the Wu family of Jinzhou hadn't been captured, and as long as there was no substantial evidence from above, they would remain in danger.
He still has a chance to survive.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
“These charges were all fabricated by others to slander me.”
"Your Majesty, please take a closer look!"
"Your Majesty, I am willing to confront the person who offered this advice in front of all the ministers present."
"As long as he can produce evidence."
"Your subject is completely convinced."
"If there is no evidence, and we rely solely on this memorial..."
"I... don't accept it!"
After Zhang Cheng made these 'confessed' statements, Zhu Youwei glared at him coldly and said, "You really are stubborn, you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!"
"Minister Zhang, how dare you force the emperor to abdicate this morning..."
"I have the means to ensure that you will all perish forever."