Chapter 20 Court discussion

The next day's court discussion was indeed as expected, and Bao Huasheng took most of the pressure. Since Lian Yuchang and others were in Sichuan, the people of the He family seized this opportunity and sought various reasons to question the Supervision Bureau. Although Xiao Yunchao wanted to be dismembered, he was still his own nominally, and it was difficult to put down the wrong person in front of the emperor. He and Xiao were not clear about the truth, and the last ones from both parties were small officials of third and fourth ranks, and they were dancing in the court like clowns.

To deal with these insignificant people, Bao Huasheng, who was mature and steadily, was still cautious, and he thought about every word and sentence, which made Feng Wuhen, who stood beside him, felt impressed. Although he had been allowed to participate in the court meeting, he rarely spoke, and often watched coldly. Unless it was the request of his father, he stood silently in his position and observed everyone's every move. Compared to when he wrote a letter to impeach Feng, Bao Huasheng was really different. No wonder his father could lean on him as an arm to help him, and perhaps he would use it as a new monarch and assistant in the future.

Although He Furong and Xiao Yunchao didn't know whether the censors had obtained the actual evidence, the deepest panic in their hearts was the emperor's attitude, so they looked at the supreme face on the throne from time to time. As for those clowns who jumped into the beam, they were just dispensable people. There were so many such people who defected to them, and now was the time to test their loyalty.

Finally, Bao Huasheng was still impatient. How could he not see that He Furong and Xiao Yunchao were using his insignificant gangsters to spend his energy, so his face became gloomy. The temperature in the hall seemed to be a little lower, and Feng Wuhen couldn't help but shrink his neck. It seemed that even the cautious people would not always let those minions mess around. Bao Huasheng was about to show his power.

Bao Huasheng looked at the guy who was spitting around with a starry sky and shouted in a deep voice: "Mr. Chen, your impeachment must be proved by facts. I will ask you, how do you know that Lord Lian and the others have not found evidence of Tai Chengtong and Sun Yong's crimes? Or do you think that my subordinates are simply trying to frame the case?"

Chen Da, the young minister of Dali Temple, was stunned. He wanted to take the opportunity to show himself and clarify his position to He Furong, but he was hitting Bao Huasheng's head. He secretly looked at the face of the Right Censor and couldn't help but complain in his heart. Just let it get involved, why bother with this trouble? "Master Bao is so serious, and the subordinate is just..."

Unexpectedly, before Chen Da finished speaking, he was interrupted by Bao Huasheng's words, "Mr. Chen, there have been precedents of the news of the censors. Even if there are fallacies in the joint participation of the masters and theirs, it is not your turn to say anything. The emperor will make a clear decision!" As soon as the tough style came up, Bao Huasheng suddenly became familiar with everyone. His cold and terrifying eyes swept across the court officials who had just been clamoring. "Even if he only impeached two corrupt officials, it is his duty as a censor. You are just talking nonsense in front of the emperor. Do you even ignore the dignity of the court officials?"

Seeing that Bao Huasheng's timid temper was coming again, the emperor saw that the temperature was similar, so he stopped Bao Huasheng's aggressive words. "Bao Aiqing, I know that you have always been considerate in training your subordinates. Besides, Lian Yu is always honest and honest. This is known to everyone in the court and the people. I will not be suspicious of loyalty and kindness because of the few words of others." Although this sentence is not the most serious, it was still shocked to those who are interested. Since the emperor admitted that Lian Yu is always loyal and kind, wouldn't it mean that Tai Qingtong and Sun Yong are dead?

The emperor quietly picked up a book on the table in front of him and shook gently. "Someone said that the censors wrote to impeach without clear evidence. It was contrary to the fairness and strictness. There was something interesting here." The emperor seemed to have not paid attention to some officials with a slight face and continued, "This thing was accidentally obtained by Wei Mianying, the former governor of Deyang. Unexpectedly, after he sent the things to the capital overnight, the governor Tai Cheng hurried to his yamen for inspection. It seemed that it was an extraordinary thing."

Many officials' hearts were raised to their throats, and Feng Wuhen was even more surprised that his father mentioned Mian Ying's name directly, and he couldn't help but glance at his uncle's expression in secret. Although he knew about this in advance, the emperor exposed the matter in public, and Xiao Yunchao still changed his face. Fortunately, Feng Wuhen once told him that most of the important officials involved in the court in the first half of the account book were from the He family, otherwise he might not be able to calm down at all.

The emperor's sharp eyes swept across the faces with different expressions, but his heart was filled with a feeling of contempt and disdain. The people rely on these officials who think about their own selfishness, and they have to entrust them with the country. This is the most ridiculous and ironic thing in the world. Although the water is clear, there is no fish, and the people are observing it, but these people are more than just a minor mistake. Unfortunately, they can move their whole body and they cannot do anything at will. Checking and balancing, and in order to check and balance, I feel so frustrated when I think about it.

"My dear friends, I have no intention of pursuing anyone in the court who secretly communicates with Taichung or has any money exchanges. What I want to ask is your heart!" The emperor stood up from the imperial throne, and his unremarkable figure seemed to be intimidating at this moment. "Since I ascended the throne, I have worked hard to govern, which is worthy of the country and the people. But what about you? Ask yourself, how many people can say that they are clean in their local offices? Three years of Qing magistrate, 100,000 snowflakes. This sentence is now widely circulated. It seems that being an official does not accept bribes is a big joke, hum!"

The emperor's heavy cold snorting made everyone lower their heads. They were all officials, and they knew how to deal with themselves at this time. Those who were usually fair and honest in their official positions were naturally no problem, and those who were hard-armed also thought that they would be over with apologizing. The most hesitant ones were low-ranking officials from He Xiao's two camps. They seemed to have seen the miserable scene of losing their posts in the eyes of the emperor.

Feng Wuhen was already worried. His father mentioned Mian Ying's name to the table. No matter how he thought about it, he was determined to put it on the opposite side of others. If so, wouldn't his previous efforts be completely in vain? To the eyes of those officials, a small prefect seemed as easy as an ant. Even if his uncle Xiao Yunchao would not make things difficult, it was hard to predict what actions the He family would do. Now his plan can only see if his father would do something else, otherwise he would have to clean up the mess by himself. He gritted his teeth and thought.

"When Li Mingtai, the governor of Liangjiang, was in office, he received no less than one million taels of silver, but when he left office, the people still climbed the corners and sent half a cart of umbrellas. What did the people do? Isn't it because when he was in office, he managed Liangjiang in an orderly manner and never consumed fire? Isn't it just that he never favored him to make a case? A mere corrupt official was so loved by the people because the kind of wealthy merchants and evil gentry he picked when he accepted money, extorted as if he was skinned and fried bones. Therefore, although the late emperor finally seized his title, he still saved his life."

"What about Taiqingtong and others? It is tolerant to exploit the people, deceive the superiors and subordinates, and even understand the intentions of you important officials in the court to deceive me!" The emperor's voice echoed in the hall without any emotion. The biting chill made many people shrink their necks, "I did not inform Lian Yuchang about this account book in advance, just to see if other officials in Sichuan are still ashamed. Since Taiqingtong has already seen the crime, others have to touch their heads to see if they are still reliable!"

"As for Sun Yong, as a scholar, he dared to collude with Taichung to create a false list, causing Sichuan students to lose all their money in order to enter the officialdom. Such blatant trading of fame is rare in this dynasty! Not to mention that he is a disciple of Haifu and a distinguished guest of Hefu, even if he is my own son, I will never spare this person!"

Xiao Yunchao finally couldn't help but leave the court officials tremblingly, and knelt down and reported: "Emperor, since the evidence is conclusive, Tai Hing Tong and Sun Yong should not be kept anymore. They should be killed to correct the country's laws. Among the officials, those who collude with him should also be dealt with together to correct the court. Tai Hing Tong was the person recommended by the empress at that time. He was so corrupt and abused the law, and the empress was really heartbroken, so he asked the emperor to punish him."

He Furong's eyelids twitched. Xiao Yunchao was too abnormal today. In the past, he could protect his confidants, but this time he actually asked the emperor to kill him to warn him and asked for punishment. He really couldn't guess his intention. His old opponent was already ahead, so how could he retreat? Besides, the emperor had already hated Taisun and the others, so he could not protect him no matter how much he protected him.

"Report to the emperor, I am hereby applauding Lord Xiao's opinion. It is just right to kill one to warn a hundred." He Furong also made a comment, "The prince violated the law and was the same as the common people. What's more, Taisun and the two of them did not have titles, so they are not considered relatives and nobles, so they must not be forgiven easily. I was close to Sun Yong in the past, but I have never discovered his despicable nature. I even strongly recommended him to serve as the position of academic and political affairs, and were willing to take on the crime of inadvertent supervision."

The two bigwigs chose to apologize at the same time, which was something that the officials who participated in the court today did not expect. The low-ranking officials who had just made a rash move all wanted to slap themselves in the mouth. The other masters were going to give up. What kind of trouble do they follow behind? Didn’t they deliberately cause trouble for their career?

Several first- and second-rank officials whispered. Today, Hai Guanyu took a leave of absence due to illness, so he did not know the attitude of the old prime minister. However, based on his years of experience of honor and favor, he probably had already handed out apologies. The actions of He Furong and Xiao Yunchao did not reveal much in advance, and the one who stood out was Xiao Yunchao, a guy who had everything behind, felt strange no matter how he thought about it. However, since the backbone had already apologized, they had to follow him. Who knows whether the things in the account book were related to them.
Chapter completed!