My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 76: Isn’t the Imperial Sword used to kill people at will?
But he didn't get angry, instead he continued to ask:

"Are they away on business?"

The doctor shook his head:

"This little guy doesn't know."

Li Banghua pondered for a moment, then said:

"Go and call the others in."

Upon hearing this, the doctor hurried out again.

Not long after, he walked in with a dozen sparse officials.

Li Banghua took a glance and his face suddenly darkened.

Because these people were all lower-level officials of the Ministry of War, and none of the core officials came.

Finally, Li Banghua couldn't bear it any longer and asked in a deep voice:
"What's going on? Where are the others?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at each other, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

After a moment, an official whispered:
"Your Excellency, I just saw several gentlemen heading towards the Imperial Palace. They also said...they said they were going to His Majesty to resign."

Li Banghua sneered in his heart when he heard this.

Because he knew in his heart that the tricks played by these officials were not uncommon.

Whenever the emperor made a major decision that was not in their interests, they would form cliques and gather a group of people to kneel in front of the palace and resign from their posts in order to confront the emperor.

This kind of thing will basically succeed unless you encounter an iron-blooded emperor like Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhu Di.

Even if it fails, it won't be a big loss.

At this time, in order to consider the overall situation, the emperor would often come out in person to appease them and say that he would handle the matter.

The final result would often satisfy these officials because the emperor would most likely make concessions.

After all, no emperor would allow a group of officials to kneel down at the palace gate and resign.

This would not only embarrass the emperor and the court, but also mean that the emperor was unpopular.

This trick is even more effective for Chongzhen, because everyone knows that Chongzhen is an emperor who attaches great importance to face!

Thinking of this, Li Banghua's face became even gloomier.

At this time, another servant came to report:
"Sir, the Imperial Guards are seeking an audience."

Li Banghua was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then said:

"Let them in."

Soon, several Jinyiwei appeared in front of Li Banghua.

He also held an imperial edict and an imperial sword in his hands.

This was the imperial edict that previously conferred the title on Li Banghua, and the imperial sword awarded to him.

Li Banghua looked at the imperial edict and the Shangfang sword in the hands of the Jinyiwei, and his mind was filled with thoughts.

These two items not only represent the emperor's trust and authority, but also mean that he is responsible for the task of reorganizing the Beijing camp.

At this moment, the leading Jinyiwei spoke:

"Sir, the Crown Prince has something for you to say!"

Upon hearing this, Li Banghua looked up at the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Please say!"

Jinyiwei said seriously:

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that no matter what you want to do, you can do it. Even if you poke a hole in the sky, he can help you hold it up!"

When Li Banghua heard this, he seemed to have made some kind of decision in his heart.

The next second, he looked at the Jinyiwei in front of him and said:

"Please, everyone, please follow me!"

Although the Jinyiwei didn't know what to do, they still bowed and said:

"Subordinate to obey!"

Li Banghua then said to the officials in front of him:
"You all should go away and do your own things!"

After saying this, he immediately walked towards the door, and several Jinyiwei followed him holding the imperial edict and the Shangfang sword.

Soon, Li Banghua arrived at the gate of the palace.

Sure enough, the military officials who had not been seen before were now kneeling here asking to see the emperor.

For example, the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of War, the prime minister, the councilor, the qixinlang and others.

Seeing Li Banghua coming, the faces of these military officials all changed, but they stubbornly did not move.

Li Banghua took the Imperial Sword from the Jinyiwei, walked in front of the crowd, and said in a deep voice:

"Everyone, I have just taken office today, and you are like this, what on earth do you want to do?"

The officials did not answer and remained kneeling motionless.

Li Banghua continued:
"I know you are dissatisfied with my appointment as Minister of War, but this is His Majesty's decree. Your dissatisfaction is useless!"

As he spoke, his tone suddenly changed.

"Isn't the reason you're kneeling here to resign from your position to His Majesty?"

"However, there is no need to trouble Your Majesty with such a small matter. Go back to the Ministry of War first, and then submit a memorial if you wish to resign. I will approve it immediately."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people present changed instantly.

Because the reason they came here was not to really resign, but just to make the emperor compromise.

This is also their usual trick, and Li Banghua should know it. However, they did not expect that Li Banghua would not play by the rules and would resign for them on behalf of the emperor.

Finally, one official couldn't help but look at Li Banghua and said, "Your Excellency, we are here to see Your Majesty. This has nothing to do with you, Your Excellency. Can you still stop us from seeing Your Majesty?"

Li Banghua sneered:
"Of course, I have no right to prevent you from seeing His Majesty, but I just took office today, and you're causing this. Isn't this clearly a tactic to get along with me?"

"I will now give you two choices."

"Either you return to the Ministry of War right now to handle government affairs, and I will pretend that nothing happened today. If you wish to resign, please write a note and I will approve it immediately."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

"After all, I am just old, not unable to lift the sword!"

As he spoke, he turned the imperial sword in his hand.

Seeing this scene, everyone's face changed.

This guy doesn't play by the rules at all!

You have to know that the civil service group has always been united. Even if there are differences in political views, the civil servants will not directly resort to violence against each other. Why did it change when it came to Li Banghua?
But to be honest, they didn't believe that Li Banghua really dared to kill people at the gate of the palace.

One official said stubbornly:

"Sir Shangshu, don't you see where we are? Even if you have the Imperial Sword bestowed upon you by the Emperor, do you dare to kill someone at the gate of the Imperial Palace?"

When Li Banghua heard this, he drew his sword without saying a word, rushed to the man, and slashed him with the sword.

However, he did have a trick up his sleeve. Instead of chopping off the opponent's head directly, he cut off his arm.

what! ! ! ! !
The next second, a scream broke through the sky, instantly stunning everyone present.

Even the Jinyiwei who came with Li Banghua were the same.

Obviously, these Jinyiwei did not expect that the newly appointed Minister of War would actually dare to draw his sword and kill people at the gate of the palace.

The noise here naturally attracted the attention of the big generals at the palace gate, and they immediately wanted to step forward to stop Li Banghua.

There's no way, this is the gate of the palace!
What's the point of killing someone here?

Seeing this, Li Banghua raised his bloodstained sword and shouted:
"Get out of the way! This is the Imperial Sword bestowed upon me by His Majesty. I have the power to execute first and report later. Who dares to stop me?"

Hearing this, the Han generals hesitated for a while, but finally had to retreat.

After all, this happened at the palace gate, not in the palace, so they couldn't stop it.

Besides, they have long been dissatisfied with these civil servants. They often kneel at the palace gate as if forcing the emperor to abdicate, which is really annoying.

Of course, there were also Jinyiwei who saw that something was wrong and rushed to the Eastern Palace, intending to report the matter to Zhu Cilang.

But that’s a story for another day.

Seeing that Li Banghua was really going to kill someone, the officials who had been kneeling on the ground could no longer kneel. They quickly got up one by one and then retreated to the side in panic.

After all, no one expected that Li Banghua would actually do it for real.

The Minister of War drew his sword and killed people at the gate of the palace, and the people he killed were his own officials. This Li Banghua is absolutely unprecedented!

But Li Banghua didn't care at all!
After all, in his opinion, the Imperial Sword is just used to kill people at will, right?

Then, Li Banghua glanced at everyone and said coldly:
"I'll repeat what I just said. Everyone, return to the Ministry of War immediately. I will pretend that what happened today never happened. You all continue as you should!"

"If you really want to resign, please write a petition and I will approve it immediately."

"I just don't believe it. The Ministry of War can't function without you. Get out of here!"

Li Banghua almost shouted the last sentence.

As soon as he finished speaking, these officials instantly wilted like eggplants hit by frost, and finally slipped away in disgrace.

Only the official whose arm was chopped off was left lying on the ground struggling in pain.

Li Banghua looked at the Jinyiwei not far away and said:
"Please send this man to the hospital."

"Don't worry, my lord."

The Jinyiwei quickly bowed and agreed, and then two Jinyiwei lifted the official up and walked out.

Not long after, when Li Banghua returned to the Ministry of War, the atmosphere of the Ministry was completely new.

Everyone was busy, and when they saw him come back, they looked at him with fear, but they still saluted him obediently.

It is obvious that the fire has been started by the new official, and it is burning very fiercely.

Not long after, Zhu Cilang, who was discussing the flintlock rifle with Bi Maokang in the Eastern Palace, also learned about this matter.

"Did you see clearly that it was Li Banghua who chopped it off personally?"

Zhu Cilang asked curiously.

He really didn't expect that this old man who was almost seventy years old would be so tough and would draw his sword and start slashing as soon as they disagreed with each other.

"I saw it clearly."

The Jinyiwei replied respectfully:
"Minister Li first asked the gentlemen to leave, saying that he would approve their resignations, but they still refused to leave."

"Then Minister Li rushed forward and chopped off one man's arm."

"That person has probably been sent to the hospital for treatment, but we don't know whether he is dead or alive."

Bi Maokang, who was standing by, was also surprised when he heard this.

He had met Li Banghua once before, but he had never imagined that this man was so brave that he dared to draw his sword and kill people at the gate of the palace.

If it were him, he wouldn't even dare to think about it!
At this moment, Zhu Cilang spoke again:

"Alright, I know about this! Just pretend nothing happened. The imperial sword given to him was originally intended for this purpose."

"But the Imperial Guards can help spread the word a little bit. It would be best if everyone in the capital knew about it. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

The Jinyiwei hurriedly bowed in agreement and then withdrew.

(End of this chapter)