Jiuxi

Chapter 1049 Extra 13 [Thunder]

The next day, Qinzheng Hall.

"Are you short of money?"

Lu Chen's face was frosty. He looked coldly at Xu Gui, the Duke of Cheng, who was standing as docile as a quail, and said in a cold voice, "Have I treated you unfairly over the years? An annual salary of 5,000 dan, 3,500 mu of meritorious land, 1,200 mu of official land, and the festival and annual gifts add up to nearly 5,000 taels of silver. Add in the year-end dividends from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and you have 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver a year. Isn't this enough for you to support your family? Asshole!"

A group of military honors stood in the hall.

The eight founding dukes and nine marquises in Beijing were all present. Duke Cheng Xu Gui, who was being scolded at the moment, lowered his head and stood obediently in the middle.

"You've taken concubines into the mansion one after another, and the banquets have become more and more extravagant. You've lost your former bravery and heroism, and now you're left with wine, sex, money and anger! Well, now the world is peaceful and there's no war, so you're thinking it's time to enjoy yourself. After all, you're a duke with great military exploits, so what's a small amount of money? This is the reward you deserve, don't you think so?"

Lu Chen slammed his palm on the table and shouted angrily: "Answer me!"

Everyone was silent.

In the eyes of outsiders, they are high-ranking military heroes, contributors to the founding of the Qin Dynasty, generals of hundreds of thousands of elite troops, and the most loyal and powerful supporters of the emperor. Wherever they go, they are met with flatterers, which inevitably makes them feel elated and lose their sense of reason.

However, no matter how conceited and arrogant they were, standing in this not very spacious Qinzheng Hall, facing the obviously angry emperor, everyone put away their little thoughts and dared not slack off in the slightest.

The reason is simple. The military achievements they are so proud of are not worth mentioning in front of the emperor!
All the dukes and princes have always firmly believed in one thing, that is, no matter how the situation changes, as long as the emperor raises his arm and calls out, hundreds of thousands of Qin's brave soldiers will gather under his dragon flag without hesitation and crush all the traitors with ulterior motives into dust.

This is the supreme prestige that the emperor has gained by being invincible in the past ten years and sweeping across the world to unify the country.

Following the emperor will help you win the battle, which has long been a firm belief engraved in the hearts of every Qin soldier.

Not to mention that the emperor is only 36 years old this year and has just entered the peak age of a man. Even if he is 63 years old this year, this will not change at all.

Xu Gui's face was covered with sweat. He lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, although I am a confused man, I also know that my little contribution is all due to your Majesty's appreciation. Otherwise, I can only be a vanguard general at best, and I dare not hope for the title of Duke today. I dare not deceive your Majesty. The expenses of my house have indeed increased in the past two years, but it is really not just my greed for enjoyment. Your Majesty, since I was named Duke, relatives of the Xu family have appeared one after another, and I can't ignore them. I really-"

"Still quibbling!"

Lu Chen said sternly, "Do you think I know nothing? In addition to this Jinxiu Building, the Xu family has twelve properties in and outside the capital, relying on your title of Duke Cheng to make a fortune! Have you forgotten how Lu Jing died?"

When these words were spoken, Xu Gui was horrified, and the other dukes and marquises also became nervous.

Three years ago, Ping'an Hou Lu Jing was stripped of his title and executed by the emperor for plundering people's property, and all the Lu family members involved in the case were beheaded.

Xu Gui knelt down with a plop, bowed his head and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Lu Chen ignored this hot-headed guy and looked around at everyone with a stern gaze. These military heroes who were highly respected outside were like eggplants hit by frost.

They did not commit such evil deeds as Jinxiu Lou, otherwise they would not be able to stand in front of the emperor with peace of mind. However, every family has its own problems, and everyone has a big family behind him. It is obviously impossible to be clean and spotless.

Lu Chen retracted his gaze, continued to look at Xu Gui and asked: "You decide what to do!"

Xu Gui knew that the emperor was really angry about the Jinxiu Tower case. He had been thinking about it for a long time in his palace. He mustered up the courage to say, "Your Majesty, I failed to educate my son properly, which caused innocent people to suffer. I am really to blame! I am willing to resign the post of the commander of the Beijing camp, and I ask Your Majesty to revoke my title!"

Everyone looked sideways.

At this moment on the edge of the cliff, Xu Dalengzi finally showed some of the bloodiness and decisiveness he had on the battlefield.

The nearly 60-year-old Chief Military Minister Li Jingda finally stood up and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to report."

"speak."

Lu Chen would naturally give some respect to this head of the military affairs council who had turned over a new leaf and firmly supported the imperial court's policies.

Li Jingda said, "Your Majesty, Duke Cheng is indeed guilty of not educating his son properly, but I do not think he condoned it intentionally. In the past few years, Duke Cheng has been managing the military affairs of the Beijing camp with great care. Not only are there very few cases of his men eating empty salaries, but the morale and combat effectiveness of the soldiers are also very good. It can be seen that Duke Cheng has never slacked off in state affairs. Therefore, I dare to ask Your Majesty to take this into consideration and forgive Duke Cheng a little."

Others did not rush to plead for mercy because they understood a simple truth - if they spoke in unison at this time, the emperor would think that they were conspiring to force the emperor to abdicate, which would probably lead to more serious consequences.

Although they all have military power to a certain extent, the elite of the elite, such as the Imperial Guards, the Seven Star Army, the Dingbei Army, the Feiyu Army, and the Zhenbei Army, have always been firmly in the hands of the emperor. The Ministry of Military Industry and the Military Industry Bureau only obey the emperor's will and are unaware of the Military Affairs Council.

After a heart-pounding silence, Lu Chen said expressionlessly, "Xu Ling is the head of Jinxiu Tower. Although he is not the mastermind of this case, he can be spared the death penalty. All his writings since birth will be confiscated and he will be exiled 3,000 miles away. Xu Gui, Duke of Chengguo, did not teach his son well and caused bad consequences. He should be severely punished as a warning to others. However, considering his contributions to the country, he is now dismissed from his position as the commander of the Beijing Camp, but he will retain his title and benefits and return home to recuperate."

Xu Gui was slightly stunned.

After the Jinxiu Tower case, he thought he could not keep his title, let alone his military power. However, the result was much better than he expected. He immediately kowtowed in gratitude and said, "I thank your Majesty for your kindness. I will cultivate myself and my family in the future and will never let your Majesty down!"

"Get up."

Lu Chen slowed down his tone and continued, "Xu Dalunzi, I know what kind of person you are. Although you are a little rough, simple-minded, and easily flattered, I will always remember the great contributions you have made to the Qin Dynasty. In the Taikang battle, you fought to the death against the infantry and cavalry of the Jing army, and you were shot in the face but still fearless. How can I not admire a brave general like you?"

Hearing this, Xu Gui couldn't help but burst into tears and said with great guilt: "Your Majesty, I..."

Lu Chen waved his hand and said slowly: "You did something wrong this time and you should be punished, but I will not hate you for it. Go back and reflect on yourself, and think seriously about why you followed me back then. You are not old and weak yet, and you will have the opportunity to follow me to see the more magnificent world outside in the future."

Xu Gui quickly raised his hand to wipe away his tears and said excitedly: "If your majesty does not mind, I will always be your vanguard general!"

"it is good."

Lu Chen motioned him to return to the train, then looked at the others and said, "You are the same, you are all my old brothers who have fought with me through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I will say whatever I want to you. The court is gradually implementing reforms, especially the next ten years are crucial. I don't want hundreds of thousands of iron-blooded troops to become a factor of domestic instability. As senior military officials, you must be cautious and self-restrained and set an example for the soldiers below."

Led by Li Jingda, a group of military heroes responded with deep emotion: "I will remember your Majesty's teachings!"

"In fact, I have no objection to your families running some businesses. After all, it is not easy to live in the capital. Now that you have a big family and a large business, you must have some income to support a large family. In any case, at least you did not cross my bottom line to get military pay and weapons, so I turned a blind eye to your private affairs in the past two years, but now it seems that I can't rely entirely on personal self-discipline."

Lu Chen stopped speaking harshly and said earnestly, "I know you are all very busy and don't have the energy to take care of everyone around you. Take Xu Dalengzi for example. If he knew the inside story of Jinxiu Tower, would he turn a blind eye? I believe he wouldn't, and neither would you, because you all know that I won't allow such a thing to happen."

Hearing the emperor's sincere words, all the military heroes showed guilty expressions. Even Li Jingda felt a little uncomfortable. He secretly thought that he had to go back and take care of the little kids at home one by one to prevent them from getting into trouble outside.

"I have been thinking over and over these past few days about how to avoid such a heartbreaking thing from happening. I don't want to see you old brothers be blinded by wealth and glory and eventually forget the difficulties you have gone through and your original intention of serving the country and the people."

Lu Chen looked at them and said calmly, "I have decided to establish the Discipline Department in the Great Qin Army from today. Just like the supervision of officials at all levels by the Censorate, the Discipline Department is responsible for supervising and reporting illegal activities of military meritorious officials. From now on, you can still hold legitimate businesses. As long as you do not violate the laws of the court, I will not treat you harshly. But I hope you will remember the existence of the Discipline Department and do not let the precious friendship between me and you go to waste."

With Xu Gui's example in front of them, and Lu Chen's unquestionable attitude, the military nobles had no choice but to bow and say, "I obey your order!"

After resolving this major issue, Lu Chen discussed military affairs with everyone and then asked them to leave.

Crown Prince Lu Jiusi is not present today. This is what Lu Chen did on purpose. After all, Lu Jiusi is still young, and he had already made quite a splash in the Jinxiu Tower case. Naturally, he will need some time to calm down.

He stood up and walked to the window, thinking quietly.

The Discipline Department will not invest too many resources and manpower for the time being, but just give those military honors a reminder. In fact, Lu Chen was not worried about the situation on the military side from the beginning, because others had no idea how well he controlled the army.

Whether it is to nip the problem in the bud or to make a warning, the Discipline Department will not make any major moves at present, but will make preparations for the future.

What Lu Chen really cares about is the last hurdle in the implementation of the new policy.

Six years have passed, and now it is time to completely eliminate the legacy of the aristocratic families.

"I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it."

The Emperor of Qin spoke softly to himself, with a tone that hinted at thunder and lightning.

……

May 20th, the sixth year of Datong.

The truth behind the Jinxiu Tower case has been revealed.

According to the joint trial and decision of the three judicial departments, Duke Chengguo Xu Gui was removed from the post of commander-in-chief of the Beijing camp for failing to educate his son. His eldest son Xu Ling, as the boss of Jinxiu Tower, was punished with the confiscation of all his writings since birth and exile three thousand miles for indulgence in his subordinates. Hu Qingyan, the chief manager of Jinxiu Tower who killed seventeen women, and thirty-seven managers, shopkeepers and guards of the tower were executed. Seven other officials in the court involved in the case were severely punished accordingly.

The cabinet issued an official document to inform local governments that the court would take this case as an opportunity to strictly regulate the brothel business in the country.

The victims and their families in the Jinxiulou case have received pensions and compensation one after another.

These are the contents of the court briefings, available to everyone.

A few high-ranking officials in the court knew another thing: Concubine De Ye Zhen died quietly due to illness, and some palace maids and some male members of the Ye family were imprisoned for crimes.

At this point, this heart-wrenching case has finally come to an end. Although there are certainly many unknown secrets hidden in it, for the vast majority of people, the case has been turned over and life must go on.

In a flash, it was two months later.

Jinfufang, the Wang family mansion.

In Lanxue Hall, two middle-aged men sat opposite each other.

The man on the left is nearly 60 years old, with a gaunt face and an elegant demeanor. He is none other than Wang An, the uncle of the current Imperial Noble Consort, cabinet minister and Minister of Rites.

The man on the right is about fifty years old. Although his temples are gray, he looks energetic. He is Wang Chulong's uncle Wang Heng, who is now one of the important officials in the court. He has served as the governor of Qingzhou, the right vice minister of the New Policy Department, and the minister of the Industry and Commerce Department. He is in a high position of power.

The hall was filled with the scent of agarwood and the atmosphere was quite peaceful.

Wang Heng sighed softly, "To be honest with you, Master, I really don't understand what the Imperial Concubine is thinking. Does she really not want to help the Fourth Prince? He is her own flesh and blood."

Hearing this, Wang An couldn't help but frown and asked, "What else do you want to do?"

Wang Heng said bluntly: "Master, from ancient times to now, there has only been the empress's family, and no one has ever heard of the concubine's family. The difference between these two words is as big as the difference between heaven and earth. Now the Imperial Noble Consort is only one step away from being the master of the Central Palace. If she can take one step forward, it will bring immeasurable benefits to the Imperial Noble Consort, His Highness the Fourth Prince, and even the Zhailin Wang family."

Wang An was silent for a long time, with a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

He knew that Wang Heng's idea was not an isolated case, or rather, as the Qin State became more and more powerful and the country became more and more prosperous, many members of the Wang family of Zhailin began to have the idea of ​​making further demands.

The Imperial Noble Consort was known as the Vice Empress, and Wang Chulong was recognized as a virtuous concubine, whose wisdom even made Wang An feel inferior to her. Why couldn't such a woman destined to be extremely noble become the Empress of the Qin Dynasty? The girl from the Lin family was just a humble person, so what virtue did she have to steal the throne of the Empress?

Not to mention that the Wang family of Zhailin is a thousand-year-old family. How can its foundation be compared with the Seven Stars Gang? In short, in the eyes of many Wang family members, Wang Chulong is worthy of the position of queen, and the crown prince must be the fourth prince Lu Jing, who has been talented since childhood.

"Pull back from the brink."

Wang An looked at Wang Heng, who was looking at him with earnest expectation, and said softly, "I have a feeling that the case is not really over yet."

"Why should the Patriarch worry?"

Wang Heng shook his head and said, "Duke Cheng was stripped of his military power, and Concubine Li's influence in the military was damaged. This is beneficial to our Wang family. As for the aftermath of the Jinxiu Tower case, didn't Concubine De pass away? This is similar to our initial estimate. Concubine De didn't know that we had hidden men around her and the Ye family. Besides, she did have reasons for doing so. How could His Majesty suspect the Wang family? Don't forget, the head of the family, even the Fourth Prince was involved in the conspiracy, which is enough to clear our suspicion."

Wang An suddenly sneered.

He raised his hand and rubbed his brow, then said slowly: "You thought this arrangement was foolproof, but you overlooked the most important issue."

Wang Heng quickly asked, "What's the problem?"

"Our Majesty never follows the beaten path. When he first attacked Heluo, I knew he was very cunning the moment we met. He didn't look like a young man who was only in his early twenties at the time."

Wang An laughed at himself and said, "You think your plan is perfect, but I think it cannot be hidden from your Majesty's eyes."

Wang Heng immediately became nervous and said hesitantly, "But the outside world has been calm for the past two months—"

Wang An interrupted him, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Perhaps Your Majesty is just waiting for me to confess my guilt."

Wang Heng stopped asking questions.

This sentence sounds simple, but Wang An really cannot take that step, because based on their understanding of the emperor, this kind of thing is best kept secret forever. Once the emperor knows the inside story, he will never forgive the Wang family just because they voluntarily confess their guilt.

"This……"

Wang Heng hesitated and couldn't think of a better way for a while.

Just at this moment, there was a sudden noise outside.

Wang Heng's expression changed slightly, and then the housekeeper from the front house rushed in in a panic, saying, "Master, something big has happened!"

Contrary to his expectations, Wang An actually asked very calmly at this moment: "What's the matter?"

"There are a lot of people outside who have surrounded the mansion and are trying to force their way in!"

The butler was extremely anxious and his body was shaking uncontrollably.

Wang Heng immediately stood up and said in a stern voice, "Who is so bold and presumptuous? Is it Shuntian Prefecture or the Sutra Weaving Department?"

"no no."

The butler shook his head repeatedly and said in a trembling voice: "It's the Imperial Guards!"

Hearing these two words, Wang Heng's face turned pale, his body swayed and he collapsed on the chair, while Wang An let out a soft sigh.

A moment later, the chaos in the Wang family mansion was finally brought under control. A strong and powerful general in armor and carrying a sword, led more than a dozen personal soldiers into Lanxue Hall. He was Qin Zilong, the Minister of the Palace Guards and Marquis of Chang'an.

He looked at Wang An and Wang Heng solemnly, slowly spread out the imperial edict, and said in a cold voice: "The Emperor of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, decrees: I have inherited the mandate of heaven and ruled over all the lands, and I have been vigilant day and night to protect the ancestral temple and the country. However, there is the Wang family of Zhailin, who has received the grace of the country and should have fulfilled their duties as a minister, but they secretly formed a clique and harbored evil intentions. Their clan took advantage of the long-term resentment of the virtuous concubine Ye, spied on the palace, and used her to frame the prince, alienate the royal family, and disrupt our great order. They are guilty of conspiracy and treason! The imperial guards are ordered to arrest the Wang family and others immediately, and wait for the officials to investigate and determine the matter in detail. Those involved will be severely punished according to the law. I decree this."

When the trembling butler heard this declaration, his eyes rolled back and he fainted on the ground.

Wang Heng was trembling all over, his lips moved but he couldn't utter a word.

Wang An was filled with bitterness, but he managed to remain calm. He knelt down and saluted, saying, "I accept your command."

Qin Zilong looked at him indifferently and said, "His Majesty wants to see you."

Wang Anfu led the order.

More than half an hour later, he was taken to Yujing Garden in the palace.

In the Cunpu Pavilion, the current emperor was standing by the railing. Standing behind him was not a chief eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but a young man who surprised Wang An.

Li Gongxu, the youngest head of the Jiangnan Jinlin Li family and the current Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture.

"I, the guilty minister, kowtow to Your Majesty."

"Flat body."

There was not much anger on Lu Chen's face. He turned to look at Wang An, who was already obviously old, and said calmly, "Why bother?"

These three short words made Wang An feel overwhelmed.

Yes, why bother?

Although Wang Chulong did not become the queen, she was also the imperial concubine second only to the emperor.

Although Lu Jing did not become the crown prince, he would always have the title of prince in the future.

Although the Zhailin Wang family is no longer as deeply rooted and powerful as it once was, it is still one of the most powerful and prestigious families in Qin, second only to the palace, just like the Lin family and the Li family.

Wang An said with shame: "I have failed your majesty's expectations. I deserve death."

"Of course you deserve to die."

Lu Chen's tone gradually turned cold, and then he said: "If you were dead when Zhang Can plotted to ambush and kill the fake Yan court officials, the Zhai Lin Wang family might not have come to this point."

Wang An suddenly felt dazed.

That was twelve years ago.

On that day, the main hall of the Heluo Palace was covered in blood and countless corpses. Zhang Can's final counterattack made the Jing Kingdom's dignitaries panic. In the end, Princess Qing Yu Huaijin was captured by Lu Chen, allowing Lu Chen to win a glorious victory.

This happened to be one of Wang An's most proud plans in his life.

In fact, he was ready to die at that time. He used his passion to gain the re-acceptance of the Wang family of Zhailin by the Former Qi Dynasty and helped thousands of clansmen find a better way out.

He survived.

But now he has reached a dead end because of the irresistible desire in his heart.

"I originally thought that those years of inactivity and cold treatment should have made you understand that there are some interests that can be fought for, and some things that cannot be touched, especially not crossing my bottom line."

Lu Chen looked at Wang An steadily and said slowly, "You shouldn't let Wang Heng and others plot against my wife and children. No matter what your reasons are, or whether you have no choice or they act first and report later, you can't do this."

At this moment, sadness and anger appeared in his eyes.

The Wang family could help Lu Jing fight for the position of crown prince, but the method they used was to seduce Ye Zhen, which ultimately led to irreparable consequences.

Wang An lowered his head and made no excuses.

After a long while, he said sincerely: "Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with the Imperial Concubine."

"If you dare to involve her, I will kill everyone in the Wang family."

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about Lu Jing? He has nothing to do with this matter, too?"

Wang An's expression remained unchanged, and he replied very calmly, "Yes."

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, and finally said without comment: "Go to the Imperial Prison and explain the details of this matter clearly. Although the Zhai Lin Wang family will be expelled, I can forgive those innocent people."

As for the people involved, the fate that awaits them is self-evident.

Wang An immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

Lu Chen turned around, and Qin Zilong stepped forward to take Wang An away.

The summer breeze was blowing gently, and the king and his minister stood there in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Gongxu said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the situation of the Zhailin Wang family has been resolved. Next, shall we take this opportunity to completely eliminate the hidden dangers of the clan?"

Lu Chen turned his head to look at the disciple who was becoming more and more calm, and asked softly: "Are you willing to give it up?"

The threat from the aristocratic families has lasted for thousands of years. Although it has been greatly weakened now, they are still powerful and have a certain influence among the people. Among them, there are two families that hold the leading position, the Wang family of Zhailin in northern Jiangnan and the Li family of Jinlin in southern Jiangnan.

Li Gongxu said calmly: "Compared to the prosperous picture outlined by your majesty, the prosperity and wealth of a family is not worth mentioning. I just want to see the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the world be peaceful and prosperous. Now that one stubborn problem after another has been solved by your majesty, the termites like the aristocratic families who rely on the people to suck blood should naturally be cleared away."

"well said."

Lu Chen smiled slightly and nodded, saying: "As my disciple, you should have the courage to be the first in the world. However, not all the powerful families are bad people. When dealing with them, we must be ruthless, cure diseases, save lives, punish evil and promote good."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Gongxu responded respectfully.

He suddenly felt curious. Was it true that His Majesty was completely unaware of what the Wang family had done?

Perhaps no one will ever know the answer to this question.

He suppressed his thoughts, looked at the beautiful scenery in front of him, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

(End of this chapter)