Chapter 43: Intent to Rebel?
Chapter 43: Intent to Rebel?
After Sun Yang finished writing the letter of accusation, Xiao Rui let him go.
With the evidence of his defection to the just cause, they weren’t afraid of him going to find Xu Xianyang. A cowardly villain like him, who feared death and valued survival above all, had long ago thrown his loyalty to the dogs.
But the matter wasn’t completely settled yet. They hadn’t found the ironclad proof to convict Xu Xianyang.
“Seventh Highness, what do we do next?” Tian Boguang asked.
“Yeah, I feel terrible all over if we can’t bring down Xu Xianyang,” Xiao Yan shouted.
Zhang Lianchuan asked, “Are there any other ways?”
Before the operation, Jia Xu had mentioned this worry. Who knew it would become reality.
“Then we’ll first bring down Gong Peng and Yao Haiyang. Once they fall into the hands of the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard, are we afraid they won’t tell the truth? If the Eastern Depot can’t pry open those two mouths, they might as well not have what’s between their legs,” Xiao Rui snorted. “So, I plan to make this a huge scandal. Lianchuan, we’ll need to borrow your father, the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s, connections for this!”
“Huh? Will my dad hit me?” Zhang Lianchuan asked, a little scared.
Xiao Rui laughed. “Trust your brother-in-law. Your father won’t hit you. On the contrary, he’ll see you in a new light.”
The Loyal and Brave Marquis, Zhang Jinfu, was the envoy Xiao Rui needed to find!
“Your words make me even more frightened,” Zhang Lianchuan said gloomily.
“…” Xiao Rui rolled his eyes. Sure enough, no one was easy to fool!
That very night, Zhang Lianchuan, trembling with fear, woke the sleeping Zhang Jinfu. Seizing the moment, he handed over Sun Yang’s letter of accusation.
After reading it, Zhang Jinfu’s face turned gloomy, his presence quite terrifying. Zhang Lianchuan was so scared he retreated to the door. He knew this expression of profound sorrow was the same one Zhang Jinfu wore before picking up the cane to chase and beat him in the past.
Mother, why did I listen to my brother-in-law’s instigation!
No, it’d be better if my sister remained a widow, without a husband like this!
“Lianchuan!” Zhang Jinfu called out.
Zhang Lianchuan almost jumped and ran for it. He just never expected what came next.
“You’ve done very well!” Zhang Jinfu said solemnly. “Although you usually fool around, when facing a major matter, you have your father’s steadiness and handsomeness. It seems I wronged you.”
What the? My esteemed brother-in-law is truly a godly man.
But what does this have to do with handsomeness?
“Father, you hold the noble rank of a Second Realm Military Marquis of the Great Xia Kingdom, bestowed with the titles ‘Loyal and Brave.’ Naturally, I must live up to this status, live up to inheriting your handsomeness, and live up to our family’s reputation,” Zhang Lianchuan exclaimed excitedly, pounding his chest.
Zhang Jinfu nodded, feeling very gratified. There was someone to carry on the legacy.
However, the Seventh Prince was indeed as he had guessed—not simple! He wanted to borrow his reputation and connections, so he would give them to him! More importantly, he was genuinely angry!
The soldiers fought bravely against the enemy. What they relied on for survival were the weapons in their hands and the cotton-padded clothes for winter! How dare they cut corners? How many blood-soaked soldiers would this dirty business get killed?
This was intolerable!
Over the next few days.
Military Dispatches from the armies of the five great military marquises—the Champion Marquis, the Ever-Victorious Marquis, the Marquis of Xiaoyong, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, and the Marquis of Pingbo—were delivered to the Five Military Commissions.
According to the Great Xia Kingdom’s system, the Ministry of War had the authority to deploy troops, but the Five Military Commissions managed the major armies and local military camps. The Military Dispatches from the five marquises all reported the same issue: problems with the standard-issue weapons and winter cotton-padded clothes.
The Five Military Commissions did not dare to delay. They reported directly to the Grand Secretary of the Inner Court, Li Mingchong. Moments later, Li Mingchong, known as the “Thunderbolt Hand of the Great Xia Turning Point,” without even receiving the memorial, directly passed it into the Imperial Palace and placed it on Emperor Xia’s dragon desk.
At the same time, Sun Yang’s letter of accusation also reached the dragon desk via the Eastern Depot. And Sun Yang, carrying the account books, took up residence within the Eastern Depot.
With pressure applied simultaneously from inside and outside, Emperor Xia was furious, erupting in thunderous rage. He ordered the Brocade Guard to cooperate with the Eastern Depot for a thorough investigation!
Immediately, Gong Peng and Yao Haiyang were arrested and taken into the Eastern Depot. The entire Ministry of Works office was cleaned out. The supervisors of the relevant official workshops were all arrested, all invited for ‘tea’ at the Eastern Depot yamen.
Even the other three departments of the Ministry of Works were repeatedly investigated, unable to escape.
The Ministry of Works was like it had been hit by an earthquake, a complete mess.
Xu Xianyang had long anticipated such a day, but didn’t expect it to come so quickly. He had made preparations. It all depended on whether Yao Haiyang, the trusted aide he had cultivated for years, could hold out for him.
As expected, Yao Haiyang and Gong Peng took the blame for the matter. But the Eastern Depot’s managing eunuch, Eunuch Wei, was not willing!
Because Xiao Rui had personally handed Sun Yang’s letter of accusation to Eunuch Wei. They had cooperated before in the grand drama of the ‘Trial by the King of Hell,’ so they had some rapport. Eunuch Wei was also grateful to Xiao Rui for giving him such a great achievement, and he quickly reported it to the Seal-Holding Eunuch, Hai Dafu. Only after the Five Military Commissions and the Eastern Depot exerted pressure simultaneously did he dare to investigate boldly.
So he wanted to dig deeper into the big black bear behind the scenes, to make his merit even greater.
Besides, Xiao Rui also had a good discussion with Eunuch Wei about the Eastern Depot’s interrogation methods.
This conversation actually made Eunuch Wei regard Xiao Rui as a kindred spirit. Many of their methods coincided without prior consultation. Some of the ingenious ideas Xiao Rui thought of even gave Eunuch Wei sudden enlightenment. Finally, Eunuch Wei sighed, “Your Highness, your status is noble. Otherwise, if you joined the Eastern Depot, you would surely lead it to glory.”
Xiao Rui clamped his legs together and gave him an awkward smile.
What Xiao Rui didn’t expect was that the Ministry of Works’ Left Vice Minister, Yao Haiyang, turned out to be a stubborn, single-minded man. Enduring countless tortures, experiencing them all, he still insisted he was the principal offender, claiming Xu Xianyang knew nothing at all. This loyalty even made Xiao Rui feel jealous.
And the task issued by the System now had only three days left for completion.
Xiao Rui grew somewhat anxious. He had made things so complicated, borrowing the wind from the Loyal and Brave Marquis, pressuring with the five great military marquises, precisely to make a big scene, to have Emperor Xia deal with Xu Xianyang. But he showed no reaction.
Jia Xu was also puzzled. Given the situation, why was Emperor Xia still not taking action?
Really no action?
Naturally not.
At that moment, on Emperor Xia’s dragon desk lay the Eastern Depot’s memorial detailing the investigation into the Ministry of Works’ crime of bending the law. Emperor Xia had already read it. Only Hai Dafu was attending in the hall, so Emperor Xia did not display the thunderous rage he showed in court.
Instead, he smiled and asked, “Yao Haiyang is foolishly loyal? The Eastern Depot used all their methods and he still wouldn’t name Xu Xianyang?”
Hai Dafu replied respectfully, “This servant is at fault for failing to pry open Yao Haiyang’s mouth. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
“Such a stubborn temper, a pity he strayed onto the wrong path. If engaged in righteous work, the Great Xia Kingdom needs people like this,” Emperor Xia said with some appreciation for talent.
Then, Emperor Xia changed the topic and asked, “Seventh Prince Xiao Rui played a very important driving role in this?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Hai Dafu said. “Sun Yang’s letter of accusation and the Loyal and Brave Marquis contacting the five great armies to exert pressure were both pushed by the Seventh Highness from behind. And he didn’t try to hide it.”
“Having exerted the effort, he has to let me know one way or another. This kid is cunning,” Emperor Xia laughed. “But it’s a pity. With his methods, forcing Xu Xianyang to this extent is already brilliant. Xu Xianyang is old and crafty. During his six years in the Grand Secretariat, he slowly infiltrated the Ministry of Works for corruption and bending the law, unhurried and patient. He surely eliminated all traces unfavorable to him.”
Saying this, Emperor Xia took a sip of light tea. “Starting from the hunting ground murder case, I wanted to see the performance of the several Imperial Princes who had established their own residences. I never expected Xiao Rui to blunder into the situation by accident. Not only did he get Xu Haoran to confess, he even exposed the Ministry of Works’ law-bending case, brought down a Left Vice Minister and countless officials. His demonstrated ability has already made me see him in a new light.”
“It’s all due to Your Majesty’s excellent guidance. As the saying goes, the dragon begets nine sons, each extraordinary,” Hai Dafu chimed in, playing the straight man.
Emperor Xia smiled, then said with a laugh, “Eunuch Hai, go notify Zhang Yu to finally close the net.”
“As you command, Your Majesty,” Hai Dafu immediately received the decree and went to arrange it.
That same late night.
The Brocade Guard Commander, Zhang Yu, personally led men to charge into the Xu Manor. They conducted massive arrests, controlling Xu Xianyang and all the Xu family members, guards, and retainers.
The charge given was: Recruiting rebels, intent to rebel!
Xu Xianyang was completely dumbfounded.
Rebellion?
Damn, wasn’t it corruption and bending the law?
When did I ever intend to rebel?
The next morning, Xiao Rui received the news.