Ch 433: Turmoil In The Court
Who bribed Ministers with money to buy an official position, who coveted a house and offered a generous gift… such Dirty Deeds were all investigated clearly by the Imperial Guard.
After obtaining evidence of their Dirty Deeds, the Imperial Guard reported everything to Master Li Hanzhou and Master Xiao Tiansheng, leaving the decision of these Officials’ futures to them.
The crimes committed by these Officials varied in severity. Minor matters were recorded to serve as a deterrence, to see if they dared to offend again.
For serious crimes punishable by death, there was no leniency; those deserving beheading were beheaded, according to the Law of the Divine Palace.
Simultaneously, the Imperial Guard listed the crimes of the extremely evil Officials and posted them on a highly visible Notice Board, so that the Commoners would understand the crimes committed by these arrested Officials.
Upon seeing the list of crimes committed by the Officials on the Notice Board, the Commoners were astonished.
“To think that Cui Zonglai, that seemingly upright Censor, actually distorted facts to frame other Officials in the Imperial Court, causing families to be ruined and people to die—truly extremely evil!”
“Yan Mingxu’s position as County Magistrate was actually bought from another Minister. And that’s not all; he even fabricated numerous wrongful cases without distinguishing right from wrong!”
“So many corrupt Officials were hiding among the Civil and Military Officials of our Divine Palace! Thankfully, the Imperial Guard exposed them; otherwise, we would have remained in the dark our whole lives!”
“…”
The Notice Board was full of the given names of Officials, some familiar to the Commoners, others unheard of but infamous.
Upon seeing their crimes, the favorable Filter through which they had been viewed shattered.
The Commoners did not doubt the truth, for the Imperial Guard had obtained Ironclad Evidence before arresting anyone.
For the Commoners, this was a matter worth discussing in this freezing weather.
But for the Civil and Military Officials in the Imperial Court, it was a devastating blow.
They were divided into factions, with numerous followers, supporting each other. But if one person was exposed, it would implicate other Officials, causing even bigger problems.
After the morning court, factions that had been opposing each other gathered to discuss how to deal with the Imperial Guard.
“We must stop the Imperial Guard’s operations. We must put aside our past grudges and unite against them!”
Minister of Justice Wang Wenjing declared righteously.
Most present were high-ranking officials rarely seen by the Commoners, and his words immediately gained their support.
“That’s right. The Imperial Guard’s existence poses too great a threat to us; we must eliminate them once and for all.”
The Imperial Guard’s existence posed a serious threat. The arrest of some minor and major Officials already had a significant impact on their reputations in the Imperial Court.
If the Imperial Guard continued their investigation, it might directly implicate them. Losing their positions would be a minor issue; being infamous for a hundred years would be their complete ruin.
Although they didn’t say it openly, they all knew they had committed one or two Dirty Deeds.
“But the Imperial Guard was appointed by His Highness the Crown Prince. If we do this, it’s equivalent to declaring war on His Highness.”
Minister of Rites Cui Wen pondered and said.
Wang Wenjing said without hesitation: “His Highness the Crown Prince is drastically reforming the Imperial Court before he even ascends the throne. If he ascends, what will happen then? The Imperial Guard must be eliminated. Let’s try a softer approach first; if that fails, we’ll use force.”
The other Officials pondered and could only nod in agreement.
For the sake of their future and reputation, even if it meant offending Master Li Hanzhou, who was certain to ascend the throne, they had to do this.
After discussing this Major Event, the Officials quickly took action.
In the following days, many Officials, each carrying a generous gift, went to the homes of Imperial Guard members, attempting to bribe them.
Human nature was revealed at this moment.
Almost all the Imperial Guard members decisively refused and recorded their actions, reporting them to Pang Wang, the Commander, who then forwarded them to Master Li Hanzhou for a decision.
However, one or two couldn’t resist temptation, accepting the Officials’ gifts. They too were recorded and reported by their fellow Imperial Guard members.
While they were responsible for supervising the Officials, they also had the responsibility of supervising each other.
Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Master Li Hanzhou looked at the list submitted by Pang Wang and calmly said: “Let the two Imperial Guard members who accepted bribes remove their Clothes. Choose two replacements from the Bei Qi army, and record the names of these Officials who offered gifts.”
Their actions were not detrimental to him; it was an opportunity to re-screen the Imperial Guard.
After this lesson, these Officials would likely not repeat their actions, and would instead resort to stronger measures. But he was not worried; Master Xiao Tiansheng would handle everything.
His next focus was coal.
“Subordinate understands.” Pang Wang said with a bow.
“How is the coal mine matter progressing? Have you found skilled Master Craftsmen?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, we have secured three undeveloped large-scale Coal Mines, and fifty Master Craftsmen.”
Master Li Hanzhou nodded and instructed: “Summon these Master Craftsmen tomorrow.”
With enough people, it was time to begin teaching the method of making Honeycomb Briquette.
Meanwhile, the Civil and Military Officials, realizing that bribery was ineffective, especially after the Officials who offered bribes were arrested, decided to resort to stronger measures.
The following day, at the morning court.
After Master Xiao Tiansheng, wearing his Dragon Robe, ascended the Dragon Throne.
Several Censers immediately stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I have a report. I accuse Pang Wang, Commander of the Imperial Guard, of harboring ill intentions and abusing his power, causing unrest!”
“I impeach Deputy Commander Luo Bailie. Holding a high position, he should have been cautious in his words and actions. Yet, without explanation, he led the Imperial Guard to search my Mansion. I am deeply worried that if they couldn’t find evidence, they would fabricate it in my House…”
“The Imperial Guard is powerful and ruthless. Their actions are undermining the foundation of the state. I implore Your Majesty to abolish the Imperial Guard!”
“I also impeach…”
All the Censers sprang into action at once.
They did not defend the arrested Officials, because the Evidence was irrefutable. They could not protect them.
Their main goal was to discredit the entire Imperial Guard department and have Master Xiao Tiansheng disband it.
After the Censers finished their reports, the Six Ministers followed suit, jointly impeaching the Imperial Guard, their attitudes firm.
Translator’s Blog
Blog
- Quitting Your Waifus Cold Turkey: Can You ACTUALLY Choose Adulting Over 2D?
- The One Thing I Gotta Do Before I Kick the Bucket: A Bucket List For The Rest of Us
- The Ultimate Isekai Checklist: From Denial to Acceptance (and Maybe a Little Indigestion)
- The Unbreakable Bond: Gon and Killua’s Bromance for the Ages
- Cat vs Dog in a Post-Mortem Snack Showdown
Leave a Reply