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

Ouyang Lun's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of every military cabinet official present. His voice was cold and firm, and his eyes swept through everyone like a blade, as if he wanted to completely dissect their hearts.

"I'm not targeting any one of you," Ouyang Lun said slowly, his tone carrying undisguised contempt, "but I want to say that every one of you is trash!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole conference room was in an uproar. The officials who had been suppressing their anger could no longer remain silent, and they all stood up, their faces full of anger and humiliation.

"Ouyang Lun! You are just a civil servant. What right do you have to insult us like this?" Li Cheng was the first to attack, with uncontrollable anger in his voice. "We have fought for the Ming Dynasty and made great achievements. How can you slander us like this!"

Wang Qian also sneered, stroked his beard, and said with sarcasm: "Sir Ouyang, although you are the son-in-law of the emperor, you are a civil servant after all, and you know nothing about military affairs. It is too arrogant to speak so arrogantly here today!"

Zhang Yuan even slammed the table and stood up, his eyes wide open: "Ouyang Lun! If you don't give me an explanation today, you will never leave this meeting room safely!"

Facing the anger of the crowd, Ouyang Lun seemed unusually calm. He slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, and scanned everyone with a sharp gaze, a sneer on his lips.

"An explanation? What do you want an explanation for?" His voice was deep and powerful, as if carrying an invisible sense of oppression. "Zhang Yuan, you are a military cabinet adviser. In the battle in northern Xinjiang last year, due to your mistakes in command, our army's food and grass were delayed, and we were ultimately defeated. Do you dare to deny it?"

Zhang Yuan's face changed, and he opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment. It was indeed his command error in the battle in Northern Xinjiang that caused the food and grass to fail to be delivered to the front line in time, and ultimately led to a great defeat. He had been trying to cover up this matter, but he didn't expect that Ouyang Lun had already known about it.

Ouyang Lun did not give him a chance to breathe, and turned to look at Wang Qian: "Wang Qian, you are a military advisor and general. In the battle in the southern border last year, the enemy used the strategy of luring the enemy deep into our territory to lead our army into an ambush. As a military advisor, you failed to see through the enemy's trick, which caused our army to lose soldiers and generals and suffered heavy losses. Do you dare to deny it?"

Wang Qian's face turned pale instantly, and beads of sweat oozed from his forehead. The battle in the southern border was indeed his mistake, which led to the army being ambushed and suffering heavy losses. He had been trying to shirk responsibility for this matter, but he didn't expect that Ouyang Lun had already seen through everything.

Ouyang Lun turned his gaze to Zhang Yuan again: "Chen Kunyuan, you are the logistics inspector. During the battle in the western border last year, the army was short of food and grass, and the soldiers fought on an empty stomach. However, you embezzled the military pay and enriched yourself, causing the soldiers on the front line to suffer from hunger and cold, and their morale was low. Do you dare to deny it?"

Chen Kunyuan's face instantly turned pale, his lips trembled, but he couldn't say a word. It was indeed because he embezzled military pay in the Western Frontier War, which led to a shortage of food and grass, and the soldiers on the front line suffered terribly. He had been trying to cover up this matter, but he didn't expect Ouyang Lun to know about it.

Ouyang Lun's eyes swept over everyone present, his tone filled with undisguised contempt: "Each of you holds a high position, but you have failed to fulfill your duties. You are slack in military affairs, lax in training, wasteful of supplies, lagging in intelligence, and some even embezzle military pay for their own benefit! People like you are nothing but trash, what else are you?"

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly dropped to freezing point. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet Ouyang Lun's gaze. Their hearts were filled with anger and humiliation, but they could not refute it. Because every word Ouyang Lun said was true.

Li Cheng, Wang Qian, Zhang Yuan, Chen Kunyuan and others were pale, with beads of sweat on their foreheads. They originally thought that their mistakes and crimes could be covered up, but they didn't expect that Ouyang Lun had already mastered everything. At this moment, in addition to anger, they were more afraid.

Ouyang Lun sat down slowly, with a hint of fatigue in his tone: "I know you are dissatisfied in your heart, but the facts are the facts. If you still have a little conscience, you should reflect on your actions. If you continue like this, don't blame me for severely punishing you!"

The atmosphere in the conference room was still solemn, and everyone was silent. Upon seeing this, Crown Prince Zhu Biao slowly stood up, speaking in a gentle but unquestionable tone: "My Lords, although what Ouyang Qing said was harsh, it was all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. I hope you will take this as a warning, work together, and ensure the peace and prosperity of our Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Biao's words were like a spring breeze, slightly easing the tense atmosphere in the meeting room. The officials lowered their heads one after another, and although they were still dissatisfied in their hearts, they did not dare to refute.

It seemed that Ouyang Lun did not want to hold them accountable for their past, which made them feel a little more at ease.

Ouyang Lun stood in front of the conference room, looking at every official present with a cold gaze. His voice was low and powerful, as if carrying an invisible sense of oppression.

"My Lords, since you are so confident in your abilities, let's have a fair assessment." Ouyang Lun slowly unfolded the scroll in his hand, with a hint of determination in his tone, "From today on, all officials of the Military Cabinet will undergo a comprehensive assessment. Those who fail the assessment will be dismissed!"

As soon as these words came out, the officials in the meeting room exploded. Li Cheng, Wang Qian, Zhang Yuan and others all looked very upset and stood up, their faces full of anger and fear.

"Ouyang Lun! Are you trying to force us to death?!" Li Cheng slammed the table and stood up, his voice filled with uncontrollable anger!

Originally, I thought Ouyang Lun just wanted to warn them, but now it seems that he is clearly trying to seize power!
For the Huaixi Party officials in the military cabinet, Ouyang Lun's control of all the power in the military cabinet is undoubtedly a huge disaster. This not only means that their personal power and interests will be seriously threatened, but it is also likely to cause the entire Huaixi Party's position in the court to plummet. From the perspective of the Huaixi Party officials, Ouyang Lun's power will bring many kinds of harm, which not only concerns their personal future, but also involves the survival of the entire faction.

First, Huaixi Party officials have long held important positions in the military cabinet, holding core powers such as military command, logistics dispatch, and military pay distribution.

These positions are not only a ladder for their personal promotion, but also an important channel for them to obtain benefits. Once Ouyang Lun has all the power of the military cabinet, he will inevitably implement reforms to break the existing power structure. The positions of Huaixi Party officials may be replaced, and replaced by new people trusted by Ouyang Lun. In addition, the behavior of Huaixi Party officials who embezzle money through military pay distribution, logistics procurement and other links will be thoroughly exposed and cracked down, and their gray income sources will be cut off. This direct deprivation of power and loss of interests is undoubtedly the most difficult for Huaixi Party officials to accept.

Secondly, as an important faction in the court, the influence of the Huaixi Party depends largely on the control of the army. The military cabinet is one of the core power organs of the Huaixi Party. Once Ouyang Lun takes power, the influence of the Huaixi Party in the army will be greatly weakened. The military academy system promoted by Ouyang Lun trains new generals loyal to the court, which will break the Huaixi Party's monopoly on the positions of middle and senior generals. At the same time, some Huaixi Party officials may turn to Ouyang Lun due to assessment pressure or loss of interests, leading to a split within the Huaixi Party. The weakening of this factional influence will cause the Huaixi Party's position in the court to plummet.

Furthermore, many officials of the Huaixi Party have embezzled military pay, misappropriated materials, neglected their duties, etc. Ouyang Lun has already obtained these evidences. Once he has power, he will inevitably launch a comprehensive liquidation. Officials who are corrupt will face the risk of dismissal, accountability, and even confiscation of property, and their political careers will end completely. In addition, most officials of the Huaixi Party come from prominent families. Once they are liquidated, not only will their personal future be ruined, but their family reputation will also be affected, and even the official careers of their descendants will be affected. This double blow to individuals and families will plunge Huaixi Party officials into deep fear.

In addition, the military reforms promoted by Ouyang Lun, including the establishment of military academies, the implementation of the assessment system, and the rectification of military discipline, will directly impact the vested interests of the Huaixi Party officials. Most of the Huaixi Party officials are children of nobles, and they rely on hereditary succession and factional recommendations to obtain their positions. Ouyang Lun's reforms will break this privilege and make their position no longer stable. Although many Huaixi Party officials have prominent backgrounds, they lack real military talent. The assessment system will expose their incompetence and lead to their elimination. The loss of this vested interest will make the Huaixi Party officials feel an unprecedented crisis.

From the perspective of political struggle, Ouyang Lun was not only the son-in-law of the emperor, but also deeply trusted by Emperor Zhu Biao. Once he took control of the military cabinet, the Huaixi Party would be at a disadvantage in the political struggle in the court. Zhu Biao clearly supported Ouyang Lun's reforms, and it would be difficult for Huaixi Party officials to fight against Ouyang Lun through pressure from the emperor. Other factions might choose to stand idly by or even add insult to injury because they were afraid of Ouyang Lun's power, and the Huaixi Party would be isolated and helpless. This political disadvantage would make the resistance of Huaixi Party officials seem pale and powerless.

Finally, in the long run, Ouyang Lun's control of the military cabinet will not only deal a blow to individual Huaixi Party officials, but will also lead to the decline of the entire Huaixi Party. The army is an important pillar of the Huaixi Party. Once it loses control of the army, the Huaixi Party's voice in the court will decline significantly. The military academy system promoted by Ouyang Lun will cultivate a group of new generals loyal to the court, and the successor force of the Huaixi Party in the army will be completely cut off. This long-term impact will cause the Huaixi Party's status in the court to plummet, and it may even completely withdraw from the stage of history.

"Force you to death?!"

Ouyang Lun shook his head. "Although you are rubbish, there is no doubt that you have made contributions to the Ming Dynasty. If I really force you to death, I don't mind it, but others will say that the emperor and the emperor are destroying the bridge after crossing the river and forcing the meritorious officials to death. This is not acceptable."

Forehead.
After hearing this, Li Cheng, Wang Qian and others didn't know whether Ouyang Lun was scolding them or praising them, but they felt very uncomfortable.

But they were speechless after being repeatedly criticized by Ouyang Lun just now. What's more, Ouyang Lun now has the leverage over them. Even if they have many complaints against Ouyang Lun in their hearts, they can only keep it in their hearts at this moment.

Li Ben originally wanted to talk to Zhu Biao again, but Wang Qian gave him a look and he ended up not saying anything.

"Ahem, Prince Consort Ouyang, may I ask what the specifics of the assessment system you mentioned are? Could you tell us about it so that we can prepare well after we go down there?" Wang Qian said.

"The relevant system of the assessment will be released in the form of an internal notice later, and the assessment details will be sent to each of you. I suggest you take a good look at it." Ouyang Lun said slowly, "The assessment will not be too difficult. As long as you prepare carefully, you will have no problem passing it. I hope you can seize this last chance!"

"Okay, today's meeting ends here, adjourned!"

"Oh, there is one more thing. From now on, everyone must come here for a meeting after class every day! If anyone is absent, it will be recorded as an absence. If it accumulates three times without special circumstances, the assessment will be directly failed!"

After the meeting, Li Cheng, Wang Qian, Zhang Yuan and others gathered together with gloomy faces.

"Ouyang Lun is too arrogant!" Li Cheng gritted his teeth and said, "He is just a civil servant, how dare he insult us like this!"

Wang Qian sneered, stroked his beard, and a hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes: "Humph, although he is the son-in-law of the emperor, he is a civil servant after all and knows nothing about military affairs. He is speaking nonsense here today just because he relies on the favor of your majesty. If he doesn't have the support of your majesty, who is he?"

Zhang Yuan nodded and lowered his voice, "Brother Wang is right. Ouyang Lun's move today is clearly to seize our power! The assessment system and military academy are just his means to exclude dissidents. If we sit and wait for death, I am afraid we will not even have a place to stand in the future!"

Li Cheng snorted coldly, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes: "He, Ouyang Lun, thinks he can drive us out of the military cabinet with a piece of assessment paper? It's just a foolish dream! We have been operating in the army for many years, how can a civilian like him shake us?"

Wang Qian narrowed his eyes, and his tone was somewhat calculating: "Brother Li, Brother Zhang, we must not be careless about this matter. Ouyang Lun dared to be so arrogant today, he must have been prepared. If we confront him head-on, I am afraid it will play into his hands."

Zhang Yuan frowned and asked in a low voice: "What does Brother Wang mean?"

Wang Qian looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then he lowered his voice and said, "Isn't Ouyang Lun going to be tested? Then we will prevent him from taking the test! Military affairs are complicated, and if anything goes wrong, Ouyang Lun will be to blame. By then, His Majesty will naturally see his incompetence!"

Li Cheng's eyes lit up, and he patted Wang Qian on the shoulder: "Great! Brother Wang is really resourceful! As long as we use some tricks in secret to make some mistakes in military affairs, Ouyang Lun will be in a mess. At that time, we will unite with other ministers in the court to impeach him and see how long he can be so arrogant!"

Zhang Yuan was a little hesitant, and whispered: "But...if the matter gets out of hand, and His Majesty investigates, won't we be asking for trouble?" (End of this chapter)