Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1662: Not Like a Minister
Seeing Umar so excited, Habib frowned, but he could also understand Umar. After all, Umar's whole family was in the city of Leisa. Once the city of Leisa was lost, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Thinking of this, Habib said in a deep voice:
"Umar, I know you are worried, but calm down now! The reason why Ye Mingsheng sent the Second Army north is because he wants us to come back for help!"

"His Second Army only has a small number of cavalry. Even if these people reach Lesa City, they won't be able to capture Lesa City!"

Umar heard this and said:

"But Belal found so many stoves and traces of the enemy's march!"

"These things can be faked! The enemy is just a small force heading north. They just want to attract our reinforcements. They don't dare to attack Lesa City at all!"

"Great Khan, what if this is true, and Daqian really has 10,000 cavalrymen attacking Lesa City!"

"There's no such thing as a possible outcome! If I say there's no such thing, then there's no such thing!"

Umar wanted to say something else, but Habib interrupted him rudely:
"Umar, stop talking. Go back to the battlefield right now and supervise the attack. We have to fight all night long!"

After hearing what Habib said, Umar was very reluctant but had to obey the order and leave.

After Umar left, a hint of worry appeared in Habib's eyes.

Umar's family is all in the city of Leisa, and now he is worried about what might happen in the city. So is Habib?

Habib was also worried about his family, especially the two twins, a boy and a girl, who were born not long ago. Once the city of Lesa was destroyed, given the hatred between Daqian and Qincha, there was no chance that the two children would be spared...
But as the Khan of Qincha, he couldn't do that!

Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In just a few days, he can capture Mount Damao and make the Robe people a thing of the grassland. In just a few days, he can fulfill the dream of several generations of the Cumans!

At this time, Habib did not allow himself to be led by Ye Mingsheng!
Don’t you, Ye Mingsheng, want to attack Wei to save Zhao and force them to withdraw their troops to provide support?
But I won’t follow your ideas. I will fight you to the end!

Thinking of this, Habib suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of Yi Jing, muttering to himself with a firm expression:
“Ye Mingsheng, use whatever tricks you have! I must defeat you this time…”

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Yijing, the Imperial Palace

"Right Censor Fang Shi trespassed into the palace and was caned thirty times!"

"Imperial Censor Pu Wei trespassed into the palace and was caned thirty times!"

"Censor Huang Chen was corrupt and committed corruption while serving as the prefect of Laizhou. He also accepted three singing girls as gifts from merchants. He is now being handed over to the Ministry of Justice for handling!"

"Hanlin Academy scholar Chen Cong had an affair with a married man, and was punished with thirty strokes of the cane and dismissed from his post!"

"Liu Bowen, a scholar from the Imperial Academy, has no respect for his superiors. He shall be caned thirty times in court!"

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Following Ye Cheng's decree, the officers of the Ministry of Justice took away the censors of the Censorate and the scholars of the Hanlin Academy one by one. Some of these upright officials who were taken away were in a state of dismay, but some were excited and shouted loudly.

"Your Majesty, one misstep will lead to eternal regret! The imperial examination is the right path for the country, and those strange and lewd tricks must not be included in it. The imperial examination should test the words of the saints!"

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! I did not receive any money!"

"Your Majesty! Don't listen to the instigation of those villains and make a mistake that will last forever!"

Listening to the shouts of his colleagues, Zhang Mang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was standing next to Ye Cheng, was also in a very solemn mood.

After announcing the imperial edict, Ye Cheng looked towards Zhang Mang. The director of the attendant department seemed to have seen what Zhang Mang was thinking, and immediately said:
"Minister Zhang, do you feel pity for these people?"

Zhang Mang was shocked when he heard this and immediately denied it:

"How could Director Ye? These people who disrespected His Majesty and trespassed into the palace should all be executed. His Majesty's punishment is already magnanimous and kind!

Upon hearing this, Ye Cheng gave a fake smile and then spoke meaningfully:
"Minister Zhang, His Majesty has ordered that there must be no leniency in the punishment. Thirty strokes of the cane means thirty strokes of the cane. There can be no leniency!"

"If the board is missing, I will be so sorry to you, Master Zhang!"

Zhang Mang was startled when he heard this and immediately expressed his opinion:

"Director Ye, you are joking. His Majesty's decree is here, so of course I will punish you with as many strokes as you want!"

After saying that, Ye Cheng nodded slightly, then looked at Qingliu who was being beaten on the side, his eyes full of satisfaction!

Although these clean officials have always been mainly dealing with the Coordination Office, this does not mean that they have a good attitude towards the Attendant Department!

These upright people did not dare to directly accuse Ye Mingsheng himself, but they always pointed their spearheads at the close ministers around Ye Mingsheng, believing that the reason why Ye Mingsheng wanted to reform was because he was influenced by these close ministers, so he became unorthodox...

Under such an ideology, the Coordination Office is a lackey, and the Attendant's Office is a villain. When the upright people scold the Coordination Office, they also scold the Attendant's Office as well!

Ye Cheng was speechless about this unprovoked disaster. He felt that this reform was clearly promoted and led by Ye Mingsheng himself. I am just a worker. Why are you scolding me, and the scolding is so harsh? I do my job wholeheartedly, so how can you become a villain?
As time went by, Ye Cheng also came to hate these upright people, but because Ye Mingsheng was more tolerant of them in the past, Ye Cheng could only endure it!

Now that Ye Mingsheng has finally made up his mind, Ye Cheng now has the opportunity to take revenge. Seeing Right Censor Fang Shi gritted his teeth and endured it without saying a word after being beaten, Ye Cheng saw this and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes and said:
"Minister Zhang, have these officials from the Ministry of Justice not eaten? Why are the canes so weak? His Majesty has said that he will teach them a lesson this time!"

Hearing what Ye Cheng said, Zhang Mang felt a little embarrassed. As a colleague, he sympathized with these upright people in his heart. He felt that these upright people were the backbone of the court and the loyal and capable generals of Daqian!
So deep down, he didn't want to use heavy hands against Fang Shi and others, but now Ye Cheng was watching here, and he had no way to show favoritism. Facing Ye Cheng's pressure at this time, although he was very reluctant in his heart, Zhang Mang could only give a look to his subordinates beside him.

Following Zhang Mang's arrangement, the servants who were calling Fang Shi and others immediately stepped up their intensity. Fang Shi, who had been silent just now, couldn't help but let out a painful sound. Seeing this, Ye Cheng also showed a smug smile on his face. He had been waiting for this day for a long time...

Under Ye Cheng's watchful eyes, the officers hit Fang Shi with their boards one after another until his flesh and blood were blurred. Soon all thirty strokes of the cane were used up. Although there were only thirty strokes of the cane, the censors of the Inspectorate and the scholars of the Hanlin Academy, who usually lived a life of luxury, could not bear it. Many of the censors and scholars who were punished fell into a coma, but Fang Shi, the highest-ranking official who was punished, remained conscious.

With the help of his colleagues, Fang Shi looked at Ye Cheng in the distance with a cold expression as if he was looking at a dead person. At this time, Ye Cheng also noticed Fang Shi. The two looked at each other. Ye Cheng frowned slightly and was about to say something, but Fang Shi turned around and walked towards home with the help of his colleagues.

Seeing this, he shook his head and said to Zhang Mang beside him:
"Minister Zhang, look at how arrogant this Fang is. How can he still be a subject?" "Your Majesty is too lenient with them! They should have known how powerful they are long ago!"

Listening to Ye Cheng's mean words, Zhang Mang felt very disgusted, but on the surface he still had to be careful to agree and smile.

After a cup of tea, all the Censors of the Inspectorate and the Academicians of the Imperial Academy had finished their punishment and left with the help of their families or colleagues. The palace gate once again returned to its former tranquility.

Seeing this, Ye Cheng nodded in satisfaction and said to Zhang Mang beside him:

"Zhang Shilang, I'll leave this place to you. If you come to cause trouble again, you will be punished with a stick in the court. There is no need to report to your superiors..."

Zhang Mang was startled when he heard this, and immediately looked at Ye Cheng, only to see that Ye Cheng was also looking at him. After the two looked at each other, Zhang Meng lowered his head again, thought for a moment, and made a decision. He said:
"I will follow Director Ye's arrangements!"

Seeing Zhang Mang, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, being so humble in front of him, Ye Cheng's eyes also showed a hint of pride. He hesitated for a moment and said:
"Your Majesty is usually very busy with official duties and has a lot of things to deal with. As subjects, we should take responsibility for this kind of trivial matter and don't bother Your Majesty!"

"Director Ye, you are right!"

"Well, I have to go back and report to His Majesty! Minister Zhang, goodbye!"

"Farewell, Director Ye!"

Under the gaze of Zhang Meng and others, Ye Cheng returned to the palace in a swagger.

Looking at Ye Cheng's proud back, a hint of worry flashed across Zhang Mang's eyes, and finally turned into a long sigh.

An incense stick later, Ye Cheng appeared in the imperial study and reported to Ye Mingsheng:

"Your Majesty, the criminals have been captured, and those emaciated imperial censors have returned to their homes. It is now quiet outside the palace!"

Ye Mingsheng, who was reviewing the memorial, paused when he heard the words. After thinking for a moment, he said calmly:
"Did Fang Shi say anything?"

"Your Majesty, Fang Shi himself didn't say anything, but his subordinates seemed indignant and said that Fang Shi devoted himself to the public and would not stop until his death. Your Majesty, you shouldn't treat him like that!"

After saying this, Ye Cheng lowered his head but glanced at Ye Mingsheng's expression out of the corner of his eye. However, to Ye Cheng's disappointment, Ye Ming's expression did not change at all.

After pondering for a moment, Ye Mingsheng spoke again:
"Is there anything else?"

"No more, I'll take my leave!"

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Just as Ye Cheng was reporting to Ye Mingsheng, Brother Qiqi also came to An Miaoyi and whispered to the queen who was resting with her eyes closed:
"Your Majesty, the matter outside has been resolved!"

An Miaoyi opened her eyes upon hearing this, and said with some surprise:
"When did Fang Shi become so easy to talk to?"

"Your Majesty arrested three Hanlin Academy scholars and five Inspectorate officials on charges of corruption and adultery, and also awarded 17 upright officials, led by Fang Shi, 30 strokes of the cane!"

An Miaoyi's eyes were filled with surprise when she heard this, while Qiqige said happily:

"Your Majesty has finally shown these upright people a lesson. They are usually too arrogant, especially Fang Shi, who even dared to say that Your Majesty is a heretic. He is really crazy!"

"Your Majesty is very tolerant. You are only beating them now. If it happened in the previous dynasty, the grass on their graves would probably be one meter high!"

An Miaoyi sighed when she heard that, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

Seeing this, Qiqige was also somewhat curious and asked:

"Madam, why are you sighing?"

"This incident is a signal!"

"Signal? What signal?"

In response to Qiqige's question, An Miaoyi looked at the personal maid and said in a serious voice:
"Your Majesty is going to get mad..."

"what?"

"Since he became emperor, his temper has softened a lot, and the pace of reform has slowed down!"

"He said that in the past ten years of war, enough people have died in this world. Many places that were once prosperous and bustling are now deserted. Now that peace and unification have finally been achieved, he doesn't want to create more bloodshed because of the reform!"

"In the past two years, the reform has reached a deep water zone, affecting the interests of more and more people. The reform has also stagnated a bit, but he has been patiently trying to solve the problem in a more gentle and peaceful way!"

"But the effect was not as expected. Now it seems that he is going to change his mind!"

After saying that, An Miaoyi shook her head helplessly. Although she had also teased Ye Mingsheng for his weakness during this period, saying that even if you abolished all tortures in the world, history books would not record that you, Ye Mingsheng, were a benevolent monarch, but if she could choose, she preferred the current Ye Mingsheng.

As a dictator, she would appreciate an emperor who was decisive, cold-blooded and had an iron fist.

As a wife, she hopes her husband is not so violent, cold-blooded, and cruel!
Although there is no love between the two, they have shared the ups and downs over the years, and with the appearance of their child, they still have a sense of affection for each other. Therefore, An Miaoyi does not want to see Ye Mingsheng become alone for the sake of reform.

Although sometimes in private, An Miaoyi would wish Ye Mingsheng to leave early so that the throne could be passed on to her son Jingren.

"But most of the time, An Miaoyi still hopes that Ye Mingsheng can have a good beginning and a good end. But now Ye Mingsheng seems to be stirring up trouble again in order to reform. This makes An Miaoyi extremely distressed and worried!"