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

Another young soldier said with some concern: "General Lan Yu is our superior. If he is severely punished, will we be implicated as well?"

In the court, Ouyang Lun and Zhu Biao finished their discussion and submitted a detailed reward and punishment charter to Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang took the memorial, read it carefully, nodded after a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Okay, let's do it accordingly. Pass on my order, and announce the reward and punishment results in public at the court tomorrow morning."

As the decree was announced, the entire capital was in an uproar. Officials, common people, and soldiers were all eagerly waiting for the final decision of the court. Rewards and punishments not only affected personal honor and disgrace, but also affected the morale of the entire Ming army and people.

Many people were worried about how to deal with Lan Yu, and no one knew what would happen to him.

You must know that Lan Yu destroyed nearly 40,000 cavalrymen of the Ming Dynasty this time. To be honest, these were the core elites of the Ming Dynasty. It would take several years even for the Ming Dynasty to form these 100,000 cavalrymen, and the newly formed ones might not have the combat effectiveness of these 40,000 cavalrymen.

Everyone knows that the situation was originally a big win, but because of Lan Yu's greed for merit and reckless actions, it led to a great defeat!

From the civil and military officials of the court to the ordinary people, students, scholars and soldiers, everyone was extremely indignant towards Lan Yu about this matter.

Some people even publicly called for severe punishment of Lan Yu.

The news that Lan Yu, due to his greed for merit and reckless advance, had sacrificed 40,000 elite cavalrymen of the Ming Dynasty spread throughout the court and the country, shocking the whole country. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and imprisoned Lan Yu and interrogated him strictly. This incident not only put Lan Yu himself in a desperate situation, but also dealt a devastating blow to the Huaixi Party. The Huaixi Party, which was once so prosperous, has now become a "plague god" that everyone avoids.

The Hanguo Mansion, which used to be bustling with people, is now deserted. Those officials who once scrambled to curry favor with the Huaixi Party are now nowhere to be seen. Even merchants and gentry who were on good terms with the Huaixi Party have closed their doors to visitors, fearing that they would be implicated. When the officials of the Huaixi Party go out to do business, they are no longer treated as honored guests as before. Instead, they are met with setbacks everywhere and even treated coldly.

Several Huaixi nobles gathered at the Duke of Han's mansion, their faces solemn and the atmosphere depressing. Li Shanchang sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed, the teacup in his hand had already gone cold, but he didn't take a sip.

"Duke, what should we do in this situation?" A noble couldn't help but speak with a hint of anxiety in his voice. "Yesterday I went to the Ministry of War to do some work, but those people didn't even look at me. They made excuses and said they were 'busy with official duties'. It was obvious that they were deliberately making things difficult for me!"

Another person snorted coldly and continued, "It's not just the Ministry of War! I went to the Ministry of Revenue to check the accounts, and the person in charge directly said, 'There is an order from above that the case of the Huaixi Party has not been concluded, and all matters are suspended.' This is clearly trying to force us to death!"

Li Shanchang slowly put down his teacup, glanced at everyone, and said in a deep voice: "The incident with Lan Yu really caught us off guard. But the most important thing right now is to keep our footing and not lose our composure."

"Hold your ground?" A young nobleman couldn't help but raise his voice, "Duke, everyone in the court is laughing at us. Even those minor officials who usually bow and scrape to us now dare to point fingers at us! If this continues, our Huaixi Party will really be finished!"

Li Shanchang's eyes turned cold, and he said sternly: "Why are you panicking! Lan Yu is Lan Yu, and the Huaixi Party is the Huaixi Party! No matter how angry the emperor is, he will not easily touch us old ministers. As long as we don't lose our composure, there is still room for maneuver."

"But Duke," another nobleman whispered, "the wind in the court has changed drastically. Even those officials who originally supported us have begun to turn to the Prince Consort Party and other forces. If we don't take action, I'm afraid..."

Li Shanchang raised his hand to interrupt him, pondered for a moment, and slowly said: "The most important thing right now is to sever your relationship with Lan Yu. When you go back, you must restrain your subordinates and never cause trouble again. As for those officials who defected..." He sneered, "They are just fence-sitters. When the storm is over, they will naturally come back."

Everyone looked at each other. Although they still had doubts in their hearts, they felt a little relieved when they saw Li Shanchang so calm.

At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and a servant ran in hurriedly, his face pale, and said in a trembling voice: "Duke, it's bad! I just received news that Lan Yu was in prison... and confessed!"

"What?!" Everyone's face suddenly changed when they heard this, and they all stood up.

Li Shanchang's pupils also shrank, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a "smack" sound, breaking into several pieces. He took a deep breath, suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "What did you confess?"

The servant lowered his head, his voice trembling: "It is said...it is said that Lan Yu revealed many secrets of the Huaixi Party, and it also involved...you, the Duke..."

The room was in a dead silence, and everyone's eyes were focused on Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang was silent for a long time, and finally stood up slowly, his eyes were like knives, and he said in a cold voice: "Pass the order, everyone return home immediately and close the door to refuse visitors. No one is allowed to act rashly without my order!"

Everyone responded and left in a hurry. Li Shanchang stood alone in the hall, looking at the gloomy sky outside the window, muttering to himself: "Lan Yu, Lan Yu, your move has really pushed us into a dead end..."

Outside the Hanguo Mansion, the autumn wind was bleak and the fallen leaves were flying. The once powerful Huaixi Party was now in turmoil and its future was uncertain.

The news of Lan Yu's imprisonment was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves in the court. However, before the dust settled on Lan Yu's punishment, and when everyone in the court was still speculating on how the emperor would deal with this once-famous general, another shocking piece of news exploded like thunder - Lan Yu confessed in prison!
It is said that in order to save his life, Lan Yu confessed all the illegal things that the Huaixi Party had done over the years, from embezzling military pay and privately appropriating land to forming cliques for personal gain and oppressing the people, and even involving some secret power transactions in the court. As soon as the news came out, the whole court suddenly changed, as if a storm was about to sweep in.

The officials of the Huaixi Party were all worried, and their former arrogance was gone. They either stayed indoors or went around to get information, fearing that their names would appear in Lan Yu's confession. Those officials and forces who had close ties with the Huaixi Party were also on pins and needles at the moment. They knew that if Lan Yu really revealed all the shameful things that the Huaixi Party had done over the years, not only would the Huaixi Party be doomed, but even those who were involved with it would be hard to escape the reckoning.

In the court, officials who used to be on good terms with the Huaixi Party avoided them, and even became cautious in making eye contact. An official from the Huaixi Party tried to strike up a conversation with a colleague with whom he had a good relationship, but the colleague just glanced at him coldly and then walked away quickly, as if avoiding the plague. The official stood there, his face pale and his heart cold.

At the same time, in the Korean mansion, Li Shanchang sat in his study, holding a secret letter in his hand, his brows furrowed. The content of the letter was exactly the details of Lan Yu's confession. His fingers trembled slightly, and his heart was filled with unspeakable emotions - anger, disappointment, and a trace of fear that was difficult to conceal.

"Duke, what should we do now?" A confidant standing by asked in a low voice, with a trembling voice. Li Shanchang was silent for a long time, and finally spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse: "Lan Yu...he is trying to drag us all down."

The confidant said anxiously: "Duke, if Lan Yu really tells all those things, our Huaixi Party will be really finished! If the emperor investigates, I am afraid that even you will be..."

Li Shanchang raised his hand to interrupt him, his eyes dark, "Why are you panicking? Whether Lan Yu confessed or not is just a rumor! Even if he did confess, he may not have solid evidence. As long as we deny it, the emperor may not be able to do anything to us."

"But..." The confidant wanted to say something else, but was forced back by Li Shanchang's cold gaze.

"I asked you to send someone to the prison to investigate. Is there any news? Did Lan Yu confess? How much did he confess? " Li Shanchang asked in a deep voice.

Faced with Li Shanchang's question, the confidant's forehead was sweating, and he hurriedly said: "Duke, Lan Yu is imprisoned in the Jinyiwei prison, which is the prison where Prince Consort Ouyang was imprisoned. The Jinyiwei is guarding very tightly. Not to mention people, even a fly can't get in. I have tried every means, but all failed. Originally, we had people in the Jinyiwei, but after the last incident of Lan Yu's adopted son, the Jinyiwei commander Ji Gang thoroughly purged the Jinyiwei from top to bottom, and all of us inside were..."

"However, we have another spy in the Royal Guards, but his rank is very low and he cannot be directly involved in the Lan Yu case. I have already ordered him to find out the answer to your question no matter what, but it will take more time."

Hearing his confidant's words, Li Shanchang's expression changed. After a while, he nodded and said in a deep voice: "It must be done as soon as possible. This matter cannot be delayed."

Li Shanchang was well aware that Lan Yu's imprisonment was already a huge blow to the Huaixi Party. If Lan Yu really confessed in prison, it would be absolutely devastating for the Huaixi Party.

"Duke, have you ever thought that this might be fake news released by the Emperor?" The confidant thought for a moment and said.

"Fake news?!" Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment, then said uncertainly: "It's not impossible. Based on my understanding of the emperor, if Lan Yu really confessed, and the emperor knew what we did, the Jinyiwei who came to arrest us would probably be on the way!"

"But I haven't heard that the Royal Guards have arrested anyone. Maybe we are just worrying too much, or maybe someone is deliberately spreading rumors! But no matter whether it is true or false, we must find out the situation of Lan Yu in prison!"

"Yes! The Duke is wise!" The confidant bowed quickly.

At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and another confidant rushed in, his face as pale as paper: "Duke, it's bad! I just received news that the emperor is angry and ordered a thorough investigation of the Lan Yu case, and... and specifically said that he wants to investigate people related to Lan Yu!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shanchang dropped the teacup he had just picked up to the ground with a clang. He slowly stood up, his eyes flashing with determination: "Pass the order down, everyone immediately destroy all documents and accounts that may be related to the Lan Yu case. Also, send someone to the prison... to find a way to contact Lan Yu. No matter what, Lan Yu can't say anything nonsense again."

"If necessary, you can"

Li Shanchang made a gesture of wiping his neck.

The confidants looked at each other, then nodded heavily and left in a hurry.

Li Shanchang stood alone in the study, looking at the gloomy sky outside the window, muttering to himself: "Lan Yu, Lan Yu, this move of yours has really pushed us into a dead end... But the Huaixi Party will never fall like this!"

The court was in a state of turmoil. The fate of the Huaixi Party seemed to be hanging by a thread, and could fall into an abyss at any time. The officials and forces that had once been attached to the Huaixi Party could only pray silently in their hearts, hoping that this storm would not affect them.

at the same time.

In the Fengtian Hall, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the anxious look of Emperor Zhu Biao. He paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, frowning, and occasionally glancing outside the hall, as if waiting for some news. The news of Lan Yu's denunciation in prison was like a sword hanging over his heart, and the rumor that the retired emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was furious made him feel even more uneasy.

"How could this happen... How could this happen..." Zhu Biao murmured in a low voice, with a bit of helplessness and anxiety in his voice. He stopped, looked up at the top of the palace, and sighed, "Lan Yu, Lan Yu, this move of yours really caught me off guard!"

At this time, there was a slight sound of footsteps outside the palace, and Ouyang Lun walked slowly into the palace, looking calm, as if the wind and rain outside had nothing to do with him. He bowed slightly and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, I am Ouyang Lun, your servant."

When Zhu Biao saw Ouyang Lun, a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes. He stepped forward quickly, grabbed his arm, and said anxiously: "Brother-in-law, you are finally here! Rumor has it that Lan Yu confessed in prison, my father is furious, and the court is in a state of panic. I... I am really helpless!"

"I was originally troubled by how to deal with Lan Yu's matter. With your help, I finally came up with a solution. But I didn't expect that Lan Yu would start to bite me. If this matter gets out of hand, it will be out of control!"

"I don't sympathize with Lan Yu. I am worried that many officials will be implicated by Lan Yu!"

Ouyang Lun smiled slightly, patted Zhu Biao's hand gently, and said calmly: "Your Majesty, why are you so anxious? Things are not out of control yet."

Zhu Biao let go of his hand and said with a wry smile: "Ouyang Qing, you don't know that Lan Yu's move has pushed the Huaixi Party to the forefront! If he really tells all those things, there will be chaos in the court. How can I... How can I explain to my father? How can I explain to the people of the world?!" (End of this chapter)