Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Ok? !

When Li Shanchang heard what Zhu Yuanzhang said, he was completely stunned.

No?

Emperor Taizong, didn't you just say that Ouyang Lun was bold? Why do you agree with Ouyang Lun's impeachment of me now? !

Li Shanchang looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with resentful eyes, but was directly ignored by Zhu Yuanzhang.

At this time, Li Shanchang finally realized that he had been tricked by the retired emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Ouyang Lun.

Li Shanchang's beard trembled a few times and he was very angry inside, but what could he do now!

With Zhu Yuanzhang's support, it was a foregone conclusion that Ouyang Lun would impeach him. In other words, it was impossible to stop Ouyang Lun's impeachment. However, Li Shanchang was not afraid. He, Li Shanchang, had been able to stand firm in the Ming Dynasty court for more than 20 years, and it was not entirely due to luck.

Li Shanchang thought about all his affairs and made sure that there were no problems. He straightened his back and held his head high, preparing to respond to Ouyang Lun's impeachment.

After getting Zhu Yuanzhang's permission, Ouyang Lun did not hesitate and said immediately: "Your Majesty, the Emperor, I impeach the cabinet minister, the Duke of Korea, Li Shanchang, for openly slandering the royal family and alienating the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the local princes!"

"His heart is to be killed!"

"To achieve the goal, one must use any means necessary. The action should be punished!"

As Ouyang Lun said these words, the civil and military officials at the scene were stunned at first, and then they reacted. In fact, it is better to say that they were awakened. Li Shanchang had just said so much. Didn't the civil and military officials know that many of Li Shanchang's words could not stand up to scrutiny? Of course they knew, but these officials had long been accustomed to Li Shanchang doing this.

Over the years, Li Shanchang often said things that went beyond the boundaries, but due to his position in the court, no one refuted or impeached him. Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao did not have too many demands on Li Shanchang's words, so no one would challenge Li Shanchang.

Over time, everyone got used to Li Shanchang's remarks. When the habit became natural, most people didn't think there was anything wrong with what Li Shanchang said.

But now Ouyang Lun stood up!
If any other minister had proposed this impeachment, he would have been criticized and spit upon by the officials of the Huaixi Party in an instant! He would also have been mocked by other officials for not knowing his own limits.

But as for Ouyang Lun, and Zhu Yuanzhang had agreed to it, even the officials of the Huaixi Party were silent this time.

Although the other ministers remained silent, they were looking forward to it in their hearts, hoping that Ouyang Lun's impeachment would be successful.

After being impeached by Ouyang Lun, Li Shanchang actually became a little flustered. He had been in the Ming Dynasty court for so many years, but this was the first time someone dared to impeach him so openly. Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude and the reactions of other ministers made Li Shanchang feel very uneasy.

Ouyang Lun's impeachment also calmed Li Shanchang down a lot. Li Shanchang was naturally very angry about the impeachment, but he had to admit that in order to allow the Huaixi Party to take the initiative to attack the Northern Yuan Dynasty again, his remarks were indeed a bit extreme.

Li Shanchang's beard began to tremble again, and his head was slightly lowered. For a moment, it was impossible to see his expression clearly, but it was definitely not a smile!
Ouyang Lun didn't think too much about it. He stepped forward and bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao. "Your Majesty, I beg you to investigate the Duke of Korea Li Shanchang strictly and punish him according to the law!"

Pfft!
After a brief reaction, Li Shanchang immediately calmed himself down and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please understand!"

"Everything I have thought about is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. Even if I made some mistakes, this is a court discussion, so it is inevitable that there will be some mistakes. If this is a crime, I am afraid that this old minister and other officials who serve the country and the people will be discouraged!"

"I'm afraid that from now on, no one will dare to speak up for justice in this court!"

Li Shanchang's reaction was very quick. Ouyang Lun impeached him for the crime of "slandering the royal family and alienating the relationship between the court and the princes", but Li Shanchang did not defend himself at all. Instead, he just said it was a slip of the tongue and even linked it to "speaking out for justice".

If you admit it, then you are not guilty of anything.

Looking at Li Shanchang's sophistry, even Zhu Biao sighed in his heart that Li Shanchang was indeed a veteran in officialdom and was very experienced in dealing with these things. However, this made Li Shanchang's image in Zhu Biao's mind even worse, an old minister who was scheming, shameless, and had no moral bottom line!

After hearing what Li Shanchang said, Zhu Yuanzhang looked quite calm, as if he had already expected Li Shanchang to do this.

"Li Shanchang, please get up. The ground is cold. I'm afraid your legs are useless!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I have devoted my life to the Ming Dynasty, but was slandered and impeached by some juniors. This really makes me feel disheartened!"

After Li Shanchang finished speaking, he was about to get up.

"Oh? It seems that you are particularly unconvinced. Then just continue to kneel." Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly.

Forehead.
Hearing this, Li Shanchang looked embarrassed. He was about to stand up but now he knelt down obediently. Seeing this, many officials wanted to laugh, but the atmosphere was so serious that they could only hold it back. They looked very uncomfortable.

"The Emperor, Your Majesty"

Li Shanchang looked at Zhu Yuanzhang pitifully.

"Li Shanchang, I know you feel wronged, and I understand that everything you do is for the sake of Ming Dynasty, but Ouyang Lun's impeachment against you is also justified. You are making it difficult for us to deal with it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly.

Li Shanchang was anxious and said quickly: "Your Majesty, what Ouyang Lun said is pure slander! How can it be justified? There is no basis at all!"

"Huh?! Li Shanchang, are you questioning Ouyang Lun? Or are you questioning me?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, and his face turned gloomy.

"Your Majesty, this is not what I meant!" Li Shanchang was about to cry.

"I see that's what you mean! Ouyang Lun impeached you for slandering the royal family and alienating the relationship between the court and the vassal kings. What's wrong with that? Isn't that what you just said? You said Ouyang Lun had no evidence? We, the emperor, and all the civil and military officials at the scene are witnesses. Isn't that enough?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's words became more and more angry.

"Your Majesty, I didn't do that! I was just analyzing the interests involved. I absolutely had no intention of slandering the royal family or alienating the relationship between the court and the vassal kings!" Li Shanchang explained hurriedly.

"Humph! You'd better not!" Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "If today's events were to be spread to our sons, they would probably hate you, Li Shanchang, to the bitter end!"

"If our sons mistake you for a traitor and come to Beijing under the banner of clearing the court of corrupt officials, how do you think we should respond?" After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Shanchang with cold eyes.

Ah!
When Li Shanchang heard this, he was dumbfounded. He had never expected such an outcome.

What he said was just to have a reason to eliminate the vassal kings and prevent them from competing with him for the initiative in conquering the Northern Yuan Dynasty. He didn't really suspect that the vassal kings had any evil deeds. Besides, even if he had such suspicion, he had no evidence!

It was just a joke at first, but Ouyang Lun took it seriously and directly impeached him.

What’s more crucial is that Zhu Yuanzhang actually approved it.

Li Shanchang was now extremely embarrassed. He had just tried to fool people, but failed. And as Zhu Yuanzhang had said, if this matter became a big deal and all the princes knew about it and aroused public indignation, then if the princes really made a fuss, judging from the way Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him just now, they would most likely want to sacrifice him!

Even a fool can make a choice between protecting his son or protecting this dying old minister!

So. Li Shanchang thought about it and finally made a decision.

Li Shanchang knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong!"

"I am old and have no sense of discretion in my words. I have made random guesses and have hurt the relationship between the court and the vassal kings. I plead guilty and accept the punishment!!"

"If the crime of this old minister can bring peace to the Ming Dynasty, I am willing to die!"

Li Shanchang is worthy of being the former chief of the civil servants. Such righteous words came out of his mouth easily, and his words were particularly sad and touching, as if he was an old man who sacrificed himself for the bright future of the Ming Dynasty. He seemed incomparably great!
Many officials were moved when they heard Li Shanchang’s words!
The officials of the Huaixi Party were already prepared, and when Li Shanchang said this, they all stood up.

"Your Majesty, although Duke Hanguo said something wrong, there is absolutely no doubt about his loyalty to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, the Emperor, everything the Korean public office did was for the Ming Dynasty. Please consider his age and forgive him this time."

"Duke Han said something that I dare not say. Although there is no evidence, it is not impossible that this will happen. As subjects, we naturally have to consider the long-term!"

"That's right! Prince Consort Ouyang often makes some outrageous remarks. If he is to be punished, should Prince Consort Ouyang be punished as well? "

"Duke Han has already admitted his fault, please show mercy, Your Majesty!"

"Prince Consort Ouyang said nothing at first, but in the end he wanted to impeach Duke Hanguo. If this continues in the future, no official in the court will dare to speak up, and everyone will just focus on the mistakes of the officials who speak up!"

"Prince Consort Ouyang's plan is truly vicious!"

"If this matter gets out, the people of the world will probably say that your majesty is indulging in favoritism and mistreating old ministers! This is bad for your majesty's reputation!"

The officials of the Huaixi Party spoke with tears in their eyes, as if they were the loyal ministers and Ouyang Lun was the traitor.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face also became solemn. He didn't care whether Li Shanchang lived or died, or whether he was guilty or not, but he definitely cared about his reputation among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

This Li Shanchang is really cunning!
"show mercy?!"

"We asked you to come to the court to give us advice, not to cause us trouble!"

"Li Shanchang, Li Shanchang, I see that you are really going backwards as you grow older. I can tell what you are thinking at a glance. Why are you pretending in front of me?!"

"Do you really want me to expose your past in front of all the ministers?"

Zhu Yuanzhang began to scold Li Shanchang directly.

"We established you as a loyal minister serving the country and the people. If we deal with you, then we will be a tyrant who harms loyal ministers? If you use this trick on others, maybe there will be someone, but you use it against us?!"

"Li Shanchang, do you think you are the only smart person among all the civil and military officials in the court?"

"what!"

Zhu Yuanzhang became angrier and angrier as he spoke, like an angry lion that might eat people at any time.

When the other officials who stood up to plead for Li Shanchang saw how furious Zhu Yuanzhang was, they immediately became quiet and did not dare to say another word.

Zhu Yuanzhang dared to chop off officials' heads and use them as stone steps. He could put officials into rag bags and smash them to death. He could also draw officials apart by five horses and execute them by slow slicing. For civil and military officials, Zhu Yuanzhang was definitely a living king of hell.

Seeing this scene, Ouyang Lun smiled faintly. He had no intention of getting involved in this matter, but Li Shanchang was really unscrupulous and would talk nonsense in order to achieve his goal. Even though what Li Shanchang said just now had nothing to do with Ouyang Lun, Ouyang Lun figured out a different meaning.

Li Shanchang mainly slandered a group of vassal kings, speaking ill of them openly and covertly, but in fact, Li Shanchang was criticizing the current vassal king management system of the Ming Dynasty. Who was in charge of this vassal king management system? It was undoubtedly Ouyang Lun!

If one vassal king has a problem, then maybe that vassal king himself has a problem, but if all vassal kings have problems, then doesn't that mean that the vassal king management system itself has a problem? !

Since there is a problem with the vassal king management system, then does the person who customized this vassal king management system, that is, Ouyang Lun, have a big problem?

It can be said that as long as Zhu Yuanzhang accepted what Li Shanchang said, not only would the initiative in the expedition against the Northern Yuan Dynasty be taken away by the Huaixi Party, but it would also lay a root of disaster for Ouyang Lun. In the future, if the officials of the Huaixi Party found any problems with the vassal kings, they could blame him.

Ouyang Lun would naturally not sit idly by and watch Li Shanchang try to deceive him in such a sinister way, so he simply took the initiative to attack.

I'm going to report you directly!

I have to say that this participant feels really good!
No wonder so many people like to report on others, this feeling is really good. To be honest, Ouyang Lun has nothing but dislike for Li Shanchang, and he has no intention of getting involved this time, but Li Shanchang is secretly doing things, which makes him very unhappy.

Since you are causing trouble, don't blame me for taking action.

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Ouyang Lun spoke decisively, "Grand Emperor, you are absolutely right!"

"I think Li Shanchang is harboring evil intentions. He said that the princes are trying to expand and become stronger, break away from the jurisdiction of the central court, and collude with the Northern Yuan people. I think Li Shanchang is also suspected of this!"

Hearing Ouyang Lun's words, Li Shanchang, who was originally pitiful, immediately glared at Ouyang Lun with red eyes, "Ouyang Lun, you... don't slander me. I, Li Shanchang, am loyal to the Ming Dynasty, to the Emperor, and to Your Majesty!" (End of this chapter)